Factors and mechanisms influencing seed germination in a wetland plant sawgrass

Webb, James; Miao, ShiLi; Zhang, Xing-Hai

Factors and mechanisms influencing seed germination in a wetland plant sawgrass

2009

Webb, James | Miao, ShiLi | Zhang, Xing-Hai

Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) is the predominant plant and vegetation community in the Florida Everglades. Germination of sawgrass seeds in the laboratory or nursery has been difficult and problematic, yet little is known about the physiological mechanistic regulation of the sawgrass seed germination process. In the present study, we examined the factors and mechanisms that influence sawgrass seed germination. We found that removal of seed husk and bracts, pre-soaking with bleach (hypochlorite), breaking the seed coat, or combinations of these treatments promoted the rate and success of germination, whereas presence of seed-encasing structures or treatment with husk/bract extract inhibited germination. We further detected the presence of abscisic acid (ABA) in the husk and bract. Experiments with ABA and gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitors fluridone and tetcyclacis suggested that ABA already presented in the pre-imbibed seeds, and not derived through post-dormancy de novo synthesis, contributed to the inhibition of seed germination. Examination of bleach and mechanical treatments indicated the physical barrier presented by the seed-encasing structures provided additional mechanism for the long-term delay of seed germination. Based on the results of this study and others, we discussed the implications of sawgrass seed dormancy and germination in relation to its natural habitat and proposed a hypothesis that the protracted seed dormancy in sawgrass offered an adaptive advantage in the pre-anthropogenic Everglades environment, but may become a liability in the current man-managed Everglades water system.

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