THE EFFECT OF ASH ON THE GERMINATION AND EARLY GROWTH OF SHOOTS AND ROOTS OF PINUS, CISTUS AND ANNUALS

To study the effect of pine ash on the germination of Pinus halepensis , Cistus salviifolius, C. creticus, wheat and radish, seeds were germi nated both in pots and petri dishes. High levels of ash reduced germin ation and growth of shoot and root in most species. Lower amounts of a sh optimized shoot growth. Differential species response in germinatio n percentage, shoot growth and root growth to various ash levels was f ound. The ecological implications of the results are discussed in the context of post-fire recruitment of pine forest.