Seed germination ecophysiology and conservation of three endemic Arabis species (Brassicaceae) of Cyprus

Abstract

This paper presents data on the seed germination ecophysiology of three Arabis species endemic to Cyprus: Arabis cypria, Arabis kennedyae and Arabis purpurea. Final seed germination in the dark, as a function of temperature, presented different responses among species and among seed lots of the same species. Different degrees of seed dormancy were also identified among different seed lots. In all cases, maximum final germination was achieved between 10–20 °C. Red light irradiation is the most efficient treatment for dormancy breakage in all three species, which implies phytochrome control of seed germination. As a result, seed germination in nature is expected to take place on the soil surface and not under canopy cover. The small seed size, the light requirement for germination and the variable germination patterns among different seed lots of the three studied species imply the formation of soil seed banks, perhaps as an essential part of their survival strategy. The value of the data presented in this paper is discussed in relation to the ex-situ conservation of the studied species.