Sn. Hidayati et al., Dormancy-breaking and germination requirements of seeds of four Lonicera species (Caprifoliaceae) with underdeveloped spatulate embryos, SEED SCI R, 10(4), 2000, pp. 459-469
Dormancy-breaking requirements and types of dormancy were determined for se
eds of Lonicera fragrantissima Lindl. & Part., L. japonica Thunb., L. maack
ii (Rupr.) Maxim. and L. morrowii A. Gray. Seeds of all four species have u
nderdeveloped spatulate embryos that are about 20-40% fully developed (elon
gated) when dispersed. Embryos in freshly matured, intact seeds grew better
at 25/15 degreesC than at 5 degreesC. Gibberellic acid (GA,) (tested only
in the light) was more effective in breaking dormancy in L. maackii and L.
morrowii than in L. fragrantissima and L. japonica. Warm- followed by cold
stratification was required to break dormancy in seeds of L, fragrantissima
, whereas seeds of L. japonica required cold stratification only. Thus, see
ds of L. fragrantissima have deep simple morphophysiological dormancy (MPD)
and those of L. japonica nondeep simple MPD. About 50% of the seeds of L.
maackii required warm- or cold stratification only to come out of dormancy
and 50% of those of L. morrowii required warm stratification only, whereas
the other 50% did not require stratification to germinate. Thus, about half
of the seeds of the two species has nondeep simple MPD, and the other half
has morphological dormancy (MD). In these laboratory tests, seeds of L. ja
ponica, L. maackii, and L. morrowii generally germinated to significantly h
igher percentages in light than in darkness; seeds of L. fragrantissima wer
e not tested in darkness. Peaks of germination for seeds of L. fragrantissi
ma, L. japonica, L. maackii and L. morrowii sown on a soil surface and cove
red with Quercus leaves under near-natural temperature conditions shortly a
fter seed maturity and dispersal in late June 1997, late November 1997, ear
ly November 1996 and late June 1998, respectively, occurred in early March
1998, late February 1998, late March 1997 and early October 1998, respectiv
ely. The germination phenologies of seeds of the same species and seed lots
buried in soil were similar to those of seeds under leaf litter. High perc
entages of seeds of all four species germinated both under litter (78-96%)
and beneath the soil surface (78-97%). These germination patterns correspon
d closely with the,requirements for embryo growth and dormancy break in the
four Lonicera species.