INSTYTUT DENDROLOGII

Mustafa Yilmaz, Tolga Ok
Seed characteristics of Flueggea anatolica, an endangered forest shrub species

Dendrobiology 2015, vol. 74: 59-67

http://dx.doi.org/10.12657/denbio.074.006

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Abstract: 

The Kadıncık shrub (Flueggea anatolica) is one of the endemic forest shrub species in Turkey. In this study, the morphological and physiological characteristics of F. anatolica seeds from three provenances (Tarsus, Kozan, Andırın) were investigated. The average 1000-seed weight was 4.9 g. There were significant differences between seeds from the different provenances in terms of their morphological characteristics, with the seeds from the Kozan provenance having the smallest seeds in terms of weight, thickness, and width. The seeds germinated at similarly high rates (90 ± 2%) at 16°C, 20°C, 24°C, and 28°C. However, the germinations occurred earlier at 24°C and 28°C, with 24°C appearing to be the most appropriate germination temperature. The results indicated that F. anatolica seeds have physiological dormancy, requiring approximately 10 weeks of prechilling for dormancy removal and germination. A 4-week warm-incubation period at 24°C prior to the prechilling treatment had only aslight effect on the prechilling duration time required to remove dormancy. Seeds stored in the refrigerator (+4°C) with a 2.7% or 4.0% moisture content conserved their high initial germination rates after one year of storage. The average germination rate of the prechilled seeds redried to an 8% moisture content and stored for one year at 4°C dropped from 92.7% to 63.6%. Basing on the results of this study, the suggested moisture content and storage temperature for storing F. anatolica seeds are 3–8% and 4°C or less, respectively.

Additional key words: Flueggea anatolica, seed, dormancy, prechilling