Serotiny in <i>Primula palinuri</i>: How to Face the Dry Season on Mediterranean Cliffs
<i>Primula palinuri</i> Petagna is the only Mediterranean and maritime species in the genus <i>Primula</i>, is endemic to coastal cliffs of southern Italy, and is classified as endangered with a decreasing population trend in the IUCN Red List. For this species, the major bot...
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/8/291 |
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| author | Roberto Silvestro Luigi Gennaro Izzo Maurizio Buonanno Giovanna Aronne |
| author_facet | Roberto Silvestro Luigi Gennaro Izzo Maurizio Buonanno Giovanna Aronne |
| author_sort | Roberto Silvestro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Primula palinuri</i> Petagna is the only Mediterranean and maritime species in the genus <i>Primula</i>, is endemic to coastal cliffs of southern Italy, and is classified as endangered with a decreasing population trend in the IUCN Red List. For this species, the major bottleneck for long-term survival has been recognized to be recruitment failure. In this study, we investigated the seed release strategy of <i>P. palinuri</i>, by using field observations and laboratory experiments. We hypothesized that repetitive cycles of wet/dry conditions and external wax removal could be the environmental triggers of capsule dehiscence. Data showed that capsules treated with wet/dry cycles dehisced within 75 days, while none subjected to constant dry conditions dehisced. Once dehisced, capsules repetitively closed when made wet, and opened again upon drying. Seeds of <i>P. palinuri</i> can remain on plant up to 2 years, over which time capsules reclose when rained upon and reopen upon drying, highlighting the first reported occurrence of serotiny in a <i>Primula</i> species. Serotiny allows <i>P. palinuri</i> to face the dry season, by avoiding capsule dehiscence during the summer dry period and delaying seed release until the beginning of fall, when water availability in the soil is generally no longer a limiting factor. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:13:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e3a2b33a71c43bdb131f1d900f8375c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:13:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e3a2b33a71c43bdb131f1d900f8375c2023-11-20T07:55:43ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-07-0112829110.3390/d12080291Serotiny in <i>Primula palinuri</i>: How to Face the Dry Season on Mediterranean CliffsRoberto Silvestro0Luigi Gennaro Izzo1Maurizio Buonanno2Giovanna Aronne3Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, ItalyInstitute for Mediterranean Agricultural and Forestry Systems (ISAFoM), National Research Council (CNR), P.le Enrico Fermi 1-Loc. Porto del Granatello, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, Italy<i>Primula palinuri</i> Petagna is the only Mediterranean and maritime species in the genus <i>Primula</i>, is endemic to coastal cliffs of southern Italy, and is classified as endangered with a decreasing population trend in the IUCN Red List. For this species, the major bottleneck for long-term survival has been recognized to be recruitment failure. In this study, we investigated the seed release strategy of <i>P. palinuri</i>, by using field observations and laboratory experiments. We hypothesized that repetitive cycles of wet/dry conditions and external wax removal could be the environmental triggers of capsule dehiscence. Data showed that capsules treated with wet/dry cycles dehisced within 75 days, while none subjected to constant dry conditions dehisced. Once dehisced, capsules repetitively closed when made wet, and opened again upon drying. Seeds of <i>P. palinuri</i> can remain on plant up to 2 years, over which time capsules reclose when rained upon and reopen upon drying, highlighting the first reported occurrence of serotiny in a <i>Primula</i> species. Serotiny allows <i>P. palinuri</i> to face the dry season, by avoiding capsule dehiscence during the summer dry period and delaying seed release until the beginning of fall, when water availability in the soil is generally no longer a limiting factor.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/8/291mediterranean habitatplant conservationspecies ecologymediterranean endemismaerial seed bank |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Silvestro Luigi Gennaro Izzo Maurizio Buonanno Giovanna Aronne Serotiny in <i>Primula palinuri</i>: How to Face the Dry Season on Mediterranean Cliffs Diversity mediterranean habitat plant conservation species ecology mediterranean endemism aerial seed bank |
| title | Serotiny in <i>Primula palinuri</i>: How to Face the Dry Season on Mediterranean Cliffs |
| title_full | Serotiny in <i>Primula palinuri</i>: How to Face the Dry Season on Mediterranean Cliffs |
| title_fullStr | Serotiny in <i>Primula palinuri</i>: How to Face the Dry Season on Mediterranean Cliffs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serotiny in <i>Primula palinuri</i>: How to Face the Dry Season on Mediterranean Cliffs |
| title_short | Serotiny in <i>Primula palinuri</i>: How to Face the Dry Season on Mediterranean Cliffs |
| title_sort | serotiny in i primula palinuri i how to face the dry season on mediterranean cliffs |
| topic | mediterranean habitat plant conservation species ecology mediterranean endemism aerial seed bank |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/8/291 |
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