Seed Dormancy Breaking and Germination in <i>Bituminaria basaltica</i> and <i>B. bituminosa</i> (Fabaceae)
Most legumes are well-known for the physical dormancy of their seeds; hence, the implementation of appropriate scarification techniques is essential for introducing new legume crops within agricultural systems. This study investigated morpho-anatomical traits and dormancy-breaking requirements in tw...
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/9/1110 |
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| author | Francesca Carruggio Andrea Onofri Carmen Impelluso Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo Giovanni Scopece Antonia Cristaudo |
| author_facet | Francesca Carruggio Andrea Onofri Carmen Impelluso Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo Giovanni Scopece Antonia Cristaudo |
| author_sort | Francesca Carruggio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Most legumes are well-known for the physical dormancy of their seeds; hence, the implementation of appropriate scarification techniques is essential for introducing new legume crops within agricultural systems. This study investigated morpho-anatomical traits and dormancy-breaking requirements in two taxa of the genus <i>Bituminaria:</i> the widespread <i>B. bituminosa</i> and the point endemic <i>B. basaltica</i>. As the species under investigation show monospermic indehiscent legumes, pods were used in this research. We performed pod trait measurements, light microscopy observations on the seed coat anatomical structure, and germination tests after mechanical, thermal, and chemical scarification treatments for seed dormancy breaking. Moreover, germination performance at different pod maturity stages and storage times was tested. Differences in morpho-anatomical traits were found, with <i>B. basaltica</i> having a thicker palisade cell layer and <i>B. bituminosa</i> showing larger pods. All of the scarification treatments proved to be able to break physical dormancy, with mechanical and chemical scarification being the most effective methods in both species. Nevertheless, dormancy-breaking treatments performed better in <i>B. bituminosa</i>. Seeds at early pod maturity stages showed higher germination capacity in both species. Overall, this research provided background knowledge on seed collection time, storage strategy, and effective pre-sowing treatment, which might contribute to enhance propagation and use of <i>Bituminaria</i> species for multiple purposes. Under this perspective, the future characterization of additional <i>Bituminaria</i> genetic resources from other Mediterranean populations will have remarkable importance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:45:37Z |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:45:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b93e1738f2548bc87db994c1769361c2023-11-20T11:39:44ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-08-0199111010.3390/plants9091110Seed Dormancy Breaking and Germination in <i>Bituminaria basaltica</i> and <i>B. bituminosa</i> (Fabaceae)Francesca Carruggio0Andrea Onofri1Carmen Impelluso2Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo3Giovanni Scopece4Antonia Cristaudo5Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Germplasm Bank (BGS-CT), University of Catania, 95128 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Germplasm Bank (BGS-CT), University of Catania, 95128 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Hortus Botanicus Catinensis, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario MSA, 80126 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Germplasm Bank (BGS-CT), University of Catania, 95128 Catania, ItalyMost legumes are well-known for the physical dormancy of their seeds; hence, the implementation of appropriate scarification techniques is essential for introducing new legume crops within agricultural systems. This study investigated morpho-anatomical traits and dormancy-breaking requirements in two taxa of the genus <i>Bituminaria:</i> the widespread <i>B. bituminosa</i> and the point endemic <i>B. basaltica</i>. As the species under investigation show monospermic indehiscent legumes, pods were used in this research. We performed pod trait measurements, light microscopy observations on the seed coat anatomical structure, and germination tests after mechanical, thermal, and chemical scarification treatments for seed dormancy breaking. Moreover, germination performance at different pod maturity stages and storage times was tested. Differences in morpho-anatomical traits were found, with <i>B. basaltica</i> having a thicker palisade cell layer and <i>B. bituminosa</i> showing larger pods. All of the scarification treatments proved to be able to break physical dormancy, with mechanical and chemical scarification being the most effective methods in both species. Nevertheless, dormancy-breaking treatments performed better in <i>B. bituminosa</i>. Seeds at early pod maturity stages showed higher germination capacity in both species. Overall, this research provided background knowledge on seed collection time, storage strategy, and effective pre-sowing treatment, which might contribute to enhance propagation and use of <i>Bituminaria</i> species for multiple purposes. Under this perspective, the future characterization of additional <i>Bituminaria</i> genetic resources from other Mediterranean populations will have remarkable importance.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/9/1110physical dormancyseed coat structurescarification techniquespod maturity stages |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Carruggio Andrea Onofri Carmen Impelluso Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo Giovanni Scopece Antonia Cristaudo Seed Dormancy Breaking and Germination in <i>Bituminaria basaltica</i> and <i>B. bituminosa</i> (Fabaceae) Plants physical dormancy seed coat structure scarification techniques pod maturity stages |
| title | Seed Dormancy Breaking and Germination in <i>Bituminaria basaltica</i> and <i>B. bituminosa</i> (Fabaceae) |
| title_full | Seed Dormancy Breaking and Germination in <i>Bituminaria basaltica</i> and <i>B. bituminosa</i> (Fabaceae) |
| title_fullStr | Seed Dormancy Breaking and Germination in <i>Bituminaria basaltica</i> and <i>B. bituminosa</i> (Fabaceae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seed Dormancy Breaking and Germination in <i>Bituminaria basaltica</i> and <i>B. bituminosa</i> (Fabaceae) |
| title_short | Seed Dormancy Breaking and Germination in <i>Bituminaria basaltica</i> and <i>B. bituminosa</i> (Fabaceae) |
| title_sort | seed dormancy breaking and germination in i bituminaria basaltica i and i b bituminosa i fabaceae |
| topic | physical dormancy seed coat structure scarification techniques pod maturity stages |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/9/1110 |
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