Storing cork oak (Quercus suber) seeds under different temperatures and the effect of storage treatments on the germination and growth of stored seeds
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Abstract
The cork oak "Quercus suber L." is one of the most important forest trees in the world, especially in the Mediterranean Basin, due to its high environmental, socioeconomic, and landscape value throughout the year. In general, these trees face particular problems that affect their germination, growth, survival, and the other biotic and abiotic causes that affect natural regrowth.Thus, the most important of these problems is the annual irregularity in tree seed production. For this reason, The storage problems of this species are of concern to managers, who are using new alternative techniques to deal with the problem of the irregular annual production of oak seeds and to preserve them for as long as possible. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of storing cork oak Quercus suber L. seeds at different temperatures and for different periods of up to 300 days on their vitality and ability to germinate. For this, the seeds were subjected to four storage parameters at four temperature levels: -0.5°C, -1°C, +4°C with thermotherapy, and +4°C without thermotherapy as a control from January 2019 to September 2019. Analysis of the obtained results showed that the treatments studied significantly affected the measured parameters. After 30 and 60 days, the results of the 4 treatments concluded that the fourth storage treatment (storage of seeds directly at +4°C) presented a good performance in terms of the length of the seedlings, which was high (52.45 cm), the production of seedlings with an average diameter of 5.28 mm, and the important germination percentage (88.57%), unlike the other treatments. After a storage period of 270 days, the fourth storage treatment, the control, stored at 4°C without thermotherapy, still showed the best growth and development. This treatment also achieved a higher germination percentage (17.14%), plant height (11.33cm), and average diameter (1.85 mm) than the other treatments.
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Cork oak seeds , Germination, Growth, Storage parameters, Vitality
Branco, M., Branco, C., Merouani, H. & Almeida M.H. (2002). Effect of insect predation on the quality and storage conditions of acorns of cork oak (Quercus suber L.). IOBC WPRS bulletin, 25(5), 163-168.
Cao, L., Dong, Z., Liu, W., Lei, J., Shen, Z. & Yang, Y. (2013). Relationship between insect infestation and seed rain dynamics of oriental cork oak (Quercus variabilis). Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences, 42(1), 77-81.
E.P.F.-CT97-3480. (2001) Publication Produced Withen The Europeaan Commity Project FAIRS5-CT97-3480. (Optimisation Of Cork Oak Seed Managment In Support Of Community Policies For Reforestation And Cork Oak Production).
Martin, Vicente A., Infante, J.M., Garcia Gordo, J., Merino, J. & Fernandez Ales, R. (1998). Acorn production in oak woodlands of Southern Spain. Pastos, 28(2), 237-248.
Merouani, H., Branco, C., Almeida, M.H. & Pereira, J.S. (2001). Physiological behaviour of cork-oak acorns (Quercus suber L.) during storage and variation between trees. Annals of Forest Science, 58(2), 143-153. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2001114
Merouani, H., Trubat, R., Lourenco, M.J, Sampaio, T., Santos M, de L., Cortina, J., Pereira, J.S. & Almeida, M.H. (2005). Fungus development, a factor limiting the long-term storage of cork oak acorns. Iobc Wprs Bulletin, 28(8), 129.
Monteleone, I., Groot, S.P.C., Tesnier, K. & Belletti, P. (2002). Seed and nursery problems in cork oak. Monti e Boschi, 53(1), 41-45.
Perez-Ramos, I.M., Aponte, C., Garcia, L.V., Padilla-Diaz, C.M. & Maranon, T. (2014). Why is seed production so variable among individuals? A ten-year study with oaks reveals the importance of soil environment. PLoS One, 9(12), e115371. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.phone. 0115371
Perez-Ramos, I.M., Padilla-Diaz, C.M., Koenig, W.D. & Maranon, T. (2015). Environmental drivers of mast seeding in Mediterranean oak species: does leaf habit matter? Journal of Ecology (Oxford), 103(3), 691-700. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12400
Pintos, B., Bueno,M.A., Cuenca, B. & Manzanera, J.A. (2008). Synthetic seed production from encapsulated somatic embryos of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) and automated growth monitoring. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 95(2), 217-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-008-9435-4
Pons, J. & Pausas, J.G. (2012). The coexistence of acorns with different maturation patterns explains acorn production variability in cork oak. Oecologia, 169(3), 723-731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2244-1
Santos, M de L. & Bernardino, V.J.G. (1995). Influence of moisture content and temperature on storage of Quercus suber seeds. Silva Lusitana, 3(1), pp.7-16.
UNEP, United Nations Environment Program (1987). Global Environment Outlook Report GEO-4- Environment for Development , the year in which the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) published its seminal report, Our Common Future.
Vieitez, A.M., Corredoira, E., Martinez, M.T., San Jose, M.C., Sanchez, C., Valladares, S., Vidal, N., Ballester, A., 2012. Application of biotechnological tools to Quercus improvement. European Journal of Forest Research, 131 (3), 519-539. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-011-0526-0.
Xin, X., Wang, W.J, Yin, G.K, Lin, J., Lu, X.X. & Jing, X.M. (2010). Freezing sensitivity and low temperature storage of Quercus acutissima and Quercus variabilis seeds. Seed Science and Technology, 38(1), 170-183. https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2010.38.1.17.
Zulueta, J.de. & Montoto, J.L. (1992). Effects of temperature and moisture on the germination of Quercus ilex and Quercus suber acorns Investigation. Agraria Sistemas y Recursos Forestales, 1(1), 65-71.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) © Author (s)
