Mechanism of smoke-induced seed germination into a post-fire chaparral annual

1 Smoke-stimulated germination in the post-fire flora of California chaparral does not appear to be triggered by nitrate. Application of freshly prepared unbuffered KNO3 solutions (pH c. 6.2) failed to enhance germination of five populations of Emmenanthe penduliflora or one Phacelia grandiflora population, regardless of light or stratification conditions. 2 KNO3 buffered at acidic pH (or unbuffered solutions equilibrated with atmospheric CO2) did induce germination, but KNO3 solutions at pH 7 failed to induce germination. Induction of germination is therefore not due to the nitrate ion per se, but rather to high [H-], although buffered controls gave weak germination at low pH, suggesting a role for H+ plus nitrate. However, other anions such as sulphate were equally as effective as nitrate at breaking dormancy. 3 The germination response to KNO3 was affected by the type of filter paper used and this may be linked to differences in pH. 4 NO2, at concentrations present in biomass smoke, was highly effective at inducing germination, and other oxidizing agents also induced germination. 5 Several growth regulators, including nitrite and gibberellin, were stimulatory only at acidic pH, but KCN was stimulatory across a broad pH range. 6 Germination decreased at smoke exposures longer than a few minutes. Also, smoked water samples effective at breaking dormancy were acidic and were less effective when buffered to pH > 7. 7 Physical scarification of the seed coat induced germination but the effect was not due to penetration of a water barrier, or to enhanced oxygen uptake or to wound responses such as CO2 or ethylene production. 8 Different effects of the gibberellin inhibitor CCC (chlorocholine chloride) suggested that the mechanisms of scarification-induced and smoke-induced germination may differ. 9 We conclude that either oxidizing gases in smoke and/or acids generated on burnt sites play a role in germination of post-fire annuals in chaparral.