Effect of intra-seasonal variation in precipitation on seed germination and seedling growth in Iris atrofusca: implications for conservation

Sergei Volis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Understanding the modulating effect of environmental conditions on the germination of seeds constituting a persistent soil seed bank has both theoretical and practical merits. I studied the role of precipitation in the germination of seeds of the imperiled geophyte Iris atrofusca, which exhibits strong seed dormancy and intermittant germination over years. I wanted to know how a single significant rain event in one of the first several seasons after seed maturation and dispersal can affect seed germination and seedling growth in I. atrofusca. This is important because knowing the amount and time of such a rainfall event, one can imitate it by a single watering applied to an artificial soil seed bank, thus initiating or substantially increasing seed germination and improving seedling growth and therefore survival. Overall, the results imply that the most efficient in terms of both seed germination and seedling survival is supplementary irrigation equivalent to 40 mm rainfall applied as a single rain event to the artificial soil seed bank early in the first and second season, plus watering equivalent to 20–40 mm in the months when the amount of precipitation is low (below 20 mm) not only in the first and second, but also in subsequent seasons.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)123-129
Number of pages7
JournalIsrael Journal of Ecology and Evolution
Volume70
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2024
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Oncocyclus
  • germination timing
  • seed dormancy
  • soil seed bank

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Animal Science and Zoology

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