THE INFLUENCE OF POPULATION, FIRE AND TIME OF DISSEMINATION ON THE GERMINATION OF BETULA-PENDULA SEEDS

The Betula pendula Roth. seeds used in this study were collected from three different natural populations in the province of Lugo (NW Spain) . Three samplings were obtained from each population during the disper sal period of the species. The objective of our research was to assess the germination response of the seeds from each population and sampli ng when exposed to some of the most important effects of fires: high t emperatures, ash and their joint effect. Significant differences have been found in the germination percentages of the seeds from the differ ent populations and also from the three samplings. However, the tested effects of fire: heat, ash and their joint effect did not significant ly affect the germination percentage of this species.