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Background and Objectives: Corylus avellana L. (hazelnut) from the Corylaceae family is a pioneer species in early-stage hazel forests. It plays a crucial role in restoring degraded forests. However, land-use changes, livestock grazing, fires, and tree cutting have significantly damaged these valuable ecosystems. Low survival and early-year growth rates of hazelnut seedlings increase nursery production costs and delay afforestation programs. This study investigated the effects of Trichoderma harzianum (T. harzianum) on the establishment, growth, and nutrient content of hazelnut seedlings under field conditions. Materials and Methods: In May 2016, new, potted hazelnut seedlings from three seed sources Fandoglou (Ardabil Fandoglou forest), Makeh (Aghvalar Guilan forest), and Makidi (Arasbaran forest) were inoculated with T. harzianum at the Ardabil hazelnut nursery. In April 2017, uniform, one-year-old seedlings were transferred to a 4050 m² plot in the Fandoglou forest. Seedlings were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications of 25 in a factorial arrangement under dryland conditions. Growth traits were measured over four years (2017-2020). Results: After four years, all measured characteristics were significantly affected by fungal inoculation. Inoculated seedlings from all three origins displayed higher values for all investigated traits compared to controls. Seedlings of Fandoglou origin inoculated with T. harzianum exhibited the greatest growth. These seedlings had the highest survival rate (65.8%), collar diameter growth (52.2%), and height growth (54.6%). Additionally, the dry biomass of roots, stems, and leaves increased by 48.60%, 46.5%, and 37.40%, respectively. Leaf nutrient concentrations of nitrogen (27.81%), phosphorus (23.23%), and potassium (34.7%) were also higher compared to uninoculated Fandoglou seedlings. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that T. harzianum inoculation enhances survival, vegetative growth, and nutrient uptake in seedlings from all three origins. However, the greatest positive effects were observed in Fandoglou hazelnut seedlings. We recommend using inoculated Fandoglou seedlings to improve afforestation success in vulnerable areas and establish hazelnut orchards in the drylands of this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Rice production is important for food security in Benin, with a national production largely dominated by the cultivation of the aromatic ecotype IR841, by far the most appreciated by Beninese consumers. However, to maintain agronomical qualities of a given cultivar, the origin and quality of seeds are mandatory and at the heart of the maintenance of yield and of market requests. Following this idea, the objective of the current study was thus to investigate the genetic purity of IR841 varieties collected from rice producers across 22 villages in Benin in relation to their agronomical performances. Results For this, agromorphological evaluation of 72 accessions based on 13 quantitative descriptors followed by genotyping with the Illumina Infinium rice 7 K SNP array of 9 accessions was carried out in the presence of 2 controls. Agromorphologic as well as genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed two groups, the first one Okouta97, Koum47, Nana30, Man118, Ang1 and control sample IR841-2) was characterized by seed accessions provided by the formal seed system, while the second (Koum53, Tchaka41 and Koud46) comprising seeds from local markets or from previous harvests and showing a depression in agronomic performances. Conclusion We showed that IR841 seed purity is mandatory for the completion of agronomical performance, and that the farmers’ choice of seeds must be guided and informed to ensure sustainability and food security.

In mountain forests, tree regeneration is limited by increasingly frequent frosts with increasing elevation. We investigated the effects of exposure to freezing temperature on early life stages of two native trees of different elevational origin in a seasonally dry mountain forest. We hypothesized that the negative effects of freezing exposure on performance of early life stages increases as freezing temperature decreases, and that frost resistance increases in plants of high elevational origin.We collected seeds of two tree species (Kageneckia lanceolata and Lithraea molleoides) from populations located at different elevations and grew seedlings and saplings in a greenhouse. Dry seeds, imbibed seeds and 1‐month‐old seedlings were exposed to seven temperature treatments ranging from 4 °C to −20 °C, while 12‐month‐old saplings were exposed to four temperature treatments from −8 °C to −20 °C. After freezing exposure in a climate chamber, we monitored seed germination and seedling and sapling survival.Germination of K. lanceolata decreased with decreasing temperature only for imbibed seeds from mid‐ and high elevations, whereas germination of L. molleoides slightly increased with decreasing temperature only for imbibed seeds from high elevations. For both species, seedling survival decreased with decreasing temperature. For K. lanceolata, the negative effects of freezing temperatures were weaker as elevational origin of seeds increased, whereas L. molleoides showed the opposite pattern. For both species, saplings only survived at the mildest applied freezing temperature (−8 °C).We conclude that effects of climatic variation associated with elevation depend on the study species and life stage. The observed patterns could be caused by maternal effects, which are absent at the sapling stage. Moreover, temperatures below −8 °C can limit recruitment since partial mortality of seedlings and saplings occurred at such values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rice production is important for food security in Benin, with a national production largely dominated by the cultivation of the aromatic ecotype IR841, by far the most appreciated by Beninese consumers. However, to maintain agronomical qualities of a given cultivar, the origin and quality of seeds are mandatory and at the heart of the maintenance of yield and of market requests. Following this idea, the objective of the current study was thus to investigate the genetic purity of IR841 varieties collected from rice producers across 22 villages in Benin in relation to their agronomical performances. Results: For this, agromorphological evaluation of 72 accessions based on 13 quantitative descriptors followed by genotyping with the Illumina Infinium rice 7 K SNP array of 9 accessions was carried out in the presence of 2 controls. Agromorphologic as well as genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed two groups, the first one Okouta97, Koum47, Nana30, Man118, Ang1 and control sample IR841-2) was characterized by seed accessions provided by the formal seed system, while the second (Koum53, Tchaka41 and Koud46) comprising seeds from local markets or from previous harvests and showing a depression in agronomic performances. Conclusion: We showed that IR841 seed purity is mandatory for the completion of agronomical performance, and that the farmers' choice of seeds must be guided and informed to ensure sustainability and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the most suitable Brant's oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) seed origins (provenances) due to the increase in the intensity of summer drought in the Zagros forests is very important for the reforestation issue. In this research, the physiological and biochemical responses of Brant's oak seedlings from eight provenances located in different altitudes and latitudes of Southern Zagros were investigated under drought stress (with the stopping of irrigation for one month). The data were analyzed in the factorial (2 levels of drought stress treatment and 8 levels of provenance), randomized complete design experiment by examining the simple and interaction effects of them. Also, drought resistance indexes of provenances were calculated and compared with each other by applying the photosystem II value before and after the stress. Results showed that severe drought stress significantly increased electrolyte leakage, osmolyte, Na, and proline contents in seedling leaves for all provenances. Although, the response of different provenances in terms of photosystem II was not similar. The provenances were located in lower altitudes (Basht site in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province and Ghaemiyeh site in Fars province) and had higher resistance and resilience values due to adaptation to high temperature and or low precipitation. Also, Chitab provenance (a cold site with less dryness in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer- Ahmad province) became drought tolerant by closing its stomata during the day and thus reducing the photosystem II and improving it in the dark. Consequently, the drought resistance of Brant's oak seedlings is partly influenced by the seed provenances and climatic conditions. The use of these results can be recommended to managers in the reforestation of the Zagros forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) covers vast areas and is of economic importance in southwestern Europe, particularly in Galicia (NW Spain). Galicia is a heterogeneous region with an Atlantic climate in the coast and a Mediterranean-like climate in the inland, where forest reproductive materials (FRM) with proper adaptation, productivity and timber quality are not available. Thus, there is a need for tailored FRM recommendations for reforestation in this region. P. pinaster is particularly sensitive to environmental variation and shows significant intraspecific genetic variability in this sensitivity, so understanding population responses to environmental variation becomes crucial for proper selection of FRM. Taking advantage of volume growth and stem straightness 13 years after planting, assessed on c. 7500 trees from 25 P. pinaster populations established in seven common gardens across inland Galicia, we analyzed intraspecific variation in sensitivity to climate, geographic, edaphic and site quality factors. We used Mantel correlations and factorial regression models to distinguish the environmental parameters explaining the observed population × site interaction. We also estimated population phenotypic plasticity across sites and the existing genetic relationship between growth and stem straightness to define the optimal selection strategy for productivity purposes. Results showed a quantitatively significant population × site interaction for growth whereas it was almost negligible for stem straightness. In the case of growth, no specific environmental factor was able to explain the population relative performance across test sites, being site quality the only significant factor but with low power to describe the patterns found. Population differences were maximized in higher site quality conditions, where the largest gains from planting selected populations would be expected. Tree growth and straightness were not genetically correlated. Based on these results, subdividing inland Galicia for deployment of P. pinaster FRM throughout specific selections for each subregion is not recommended. Selecting FRM based on average growth and its phenotypic stability should be also avoided, as both properties were negatively correlated. We recommend selecting FRM based on the results from high quality sites, where Atlantic origin populations with high levels of genetic improvement showed the fastest growth. The inclusion of selection criteria based on stem straightness did not alter recommendations given that fast growing FRM showed intermediate or slightly above-average straightness. The limited explanatory power of climate factors for the population × site interaction prevents adjusting recommendations in light of the projected climate change. • P. pinaster FRM did not exhibit stable good average growth across inland Galicia. • G×E interaction was statistically significant for growth but not for stem straightness. • We do not recommend subdividing inland Galicia for the deployment of P. pinaster FRM. • We advise planting genetically improved Atlantic FRM across inland Galicia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the geographical origin of eight Romanian provenances of Robinia pseudoacacia on the characteristics of seeds, germination, and growth of seedlings in young stages of life was analyzed. Four experiments were undertaken to test seed germination (thermal treatment at distinct temperatures, mechanical scarification, acetone 90%, and biostimulator). The germination percentage showed that scarification treatment provided the best results among all treatments (41.7%). Seeds soaked in water at 100 °C provided the second-highest germination rate. Furthermore, the same two treatments also assured the highest values for the seedlings' length. There were registered significant differences among the provenances for the analyzed characteristics, the seed germination capacity, and the growth rate of the seedlings in the first years of life. The study highlighted the resources that could ensure good quality of the reproductive forest material, which can be used in new afforestation and breeding programs. Pearson correlations and multivariate analysis provided interesting and useful information about R. pseudoacacia provenances and 13 characteristics of the seeds and seedlings, highlighting the relationship among them. The results could be of interest for the efficient use of forest genetic resources and the obtention of quality reproductive material in black locust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arid areas, increasing irrigation periods is necessary to providing the water needed for the development of green space and plantation. This study was conducted in forest park of Saveh based on a randomized complete block design in split-split plot arrangement with irrigation period as main plot and coniferous species of Juniperus excelsa M.B., Cupressus arizonica Green., Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco., Cupressus sempervirens Var. fastigiata., Cupressus sempervirens Var. horizontalis., Pinus eldarica Medw., Pinus brutia Ten., Pinus mugo Turra., Pinus pinea L., Taxodium distichum L. Rich., as sub plot with different origin in three blocks for 5 years. In each block from each species, 24 seedlings as a group were planted at 2.5 × 2 m. spacing that from these numbers, 12 seedlings were considered for 7 days irrigation and 12 seedlings for 14 days irrigation using of TerraCottem hydrophilic polymer. The results showed that height and collar diameter showed a significant statistical difference.in the interaction between irrigation periods and species. The main effect of irrigation period was significant on characteristics of collar diameter and vitality. P. brutia obtained the highest height (2.76 m), survival percentage (90.67 %), and vitality (90 %) and P. mugo obtained the highest collar diameter (6.42 cm), canopy cover diameter (1.27 m) and area of canopy cover (5.12 m2). Cluster analysis showed that species of P. orientalis, P. brutia and C. sempervirens Var. fastigiata with Koloudeh origin are in the most suitable conditions in terms of each of the variables studied and along with 14 days irrigation period using of TerraCottem hydrophilic polymer introduced for planting in Saveh.

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is an annual Asteraceae species native to North America which is highly invasive across Europe and has harmful impacts, especially on human health and agricul-ture. Besides its wide ecological range, particularly its high reproductive power by seeds is promoting its spread to various habitats and regions. To prevent further spread and to control the plant, the European Commission funded projects and COST-Actions involving scientists from all over Europe. A joint trial was set up comprising eight different laboratories from Europe to study seed viability variation in different seed samples. Three different testing methods (viability test with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), a germination test combined with a subsequent TTC test and a crush test) were tested within the EU-COST-Action SMARTER network to four different seed origins. The viability test results from different laboratories were compared for variation amongst tests and laboratories. The main aim was to optimise the reliability of testing procedures, but results revealed not only significant effects of seed origin and seed age on seed viability, but also considerable differences between the output of the individual testing methods and furthermore between laboratories. Due to these significant differences in the results of the testing labs, additionally a second test was set up. Twelve Austrian ragweed populations were used for TTC testing to obtain a precise adjustment of the testing method as well as a tight guideline for interpreting the results, particularly for the TTC state "intermediate" since a proper classification of TTC-intermediate coloured seeds is still a challenge when determining viability rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson was introduced in Chile as a promising species for the diversification of the forest productivity and to optimize the soil productivity in areas where the traditional species have failed to develop satisfactorily; however, the introduction of exotic species in a new environment requires the selection of appropriate source of seeds as a first step for long-term breeding. In this study we assessed growth and survival on 30 Pinus ponderosa provenance seedlots from the Pacific and North Plateau races in the United States established in a common-garden experiment. The study included 3 seedlots from the coastal and inland regions of Washington State, 20 from Oregon, and 7 from California. Seedlings were planted in 2002 in a site characterized by high rainfall and snow. Tree height, root collar diameter, and survival were recorded, and a stem volume index calculated, at ages 1, 3, and 6 years since planting. At age 6 years, the best provenance seedlots from the Pacific race averaged 696 cm3 year−1 for stem volume index and 0.36 cm year−1 for height. The slowest-growing seedlot, of the North Plateau race, averaged 197 cm3 year−1 for volume index and 0.22 cm year−1 for height. Differences in survival were not large, ranging from 85% for a seedlot from interior Oregon to 98% for a Californian provenance. At age 6 years, the average survival across all seedlots was 91%, suggesting good adaptation of the species to the site conditions. The study suggests that provenances of the Pacific race could provide appropriate planting material for forest plantations in Southern Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In degraded environments with restricted seed availability, like those burned by wildfires in central Chile during 2017, the use of plant material from outside its area of origin for restoration purposes needs to be accurately investigated. We assessed the early development of three Chilean provenances of Quillaja saponaria grown in different container sizes (140 vs. 280 mL) in the nursery and then outplanted in a common field trial at a site severely affected by fire under Mediterranean-type climate. We analyzed growth, biomass, and leaf-level physiological traits. In the nursery, there was a significant provenance by container type interaction for the biomass traits (P < 0.05). Seedlings from the Maule provenance cultivated in larger containers had the highest biomass, while the lowest biomass was observed for the Metropolitan provenance cultivated in small containers. Two years after outplanting, the provenance by container size interaction was significant for stomatal conductance and chlorophyll density. Seedlings from the Metropolitan provenance cultivated in larger containers exhibited a higher stomatal conductance, while those from the Maule provenance cultivated in small containers exhibited the highest chlorophyll density. Seedling height showed significant variation for provenance and container size. The tallest seedlings were those grown in larger containers from the Maule provenance; however, no differences in survival and height increment were found. Gas exchange parameters differed among provenances, the Metropolitan provenance had a low performance and the opposite was found for the Biobío and Maule provenances. This study demonstrated that different provenances of Q. saponaria have stable performances in a Mediterranean site, which support their use for restoration purposes outside their home area with no detrimental effects on outplanting performance.

Water shortage is one of the most important environmental stresses in Mediterranean regions. Poor seedling quality may account for the failure of oak regeneration. To determine the best seed origin of Quercus brantii, we investigated on seedlings collected from 20 mother trees in the Zagros Mountain forests 700 to 2200 m altitudes above sea level. Seedlings from different altitudes were irrigated at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of field capacity (FC), from June through the end of August 2005, and then their growth, physiological and biochemical parameters were examined. The results showed that the activity of peroxidase (PO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and amylase, as well as the rate of membrane lipid peroxidation and the content of lignin were not affected by water deficit stress. However, the survival and growth rates were reduced below 50% FC. Seedlings originated from lower altitudes had higher growth and survival rate than those from higher altitudes below 50% of FC. The seedlings grown under 50% FC had also high phosphorus and water soluble carbohydrate contents. In conclusion, the present study showed that the seedlings from lower altitudes, which their mother trees grown under warmer climate condition in growth season, were more resistant to water deficit due to higher root to shoot ratio, phosphorus and water soluble carbohydrate contents under water deficits.

Teak (Tectona grandis) has been widely planted in 70 tropical countries because of the utility and value of its wood. This species was introduced to Indonesia more than 100 years ago, and large plantations—covering 1.2 million ha—can be found on Java Island. However, little information currently exists about the genetic diversity and origin of these trees. We collected plant materials from three regions across Java Island (east, central, and west) and sampled trees spanning three age classes in each region, to clarify the genetic diversity and structure of teak plantations on Java Island. We investigated teak plantation and clonal experiment populations using multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) and compared the genetic diversity and structure with the provenance test populations derived from natural teak forest in India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. Analyses using 459 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci revealed that native provenances had higher genetic diversity than the Indonesian teak plantations. Moreover, old teak plantations demonstrated lower genetic diversity than young plantations. Further analyses showed that most Indonesian teak plantations are genetically related to Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar provenances. We conclude that there is a weak genetic structure on teak plantations among the regions, which indicates that most plantations were established using plant materials from a specific part of the natural teak distribution. Information regarding the genetic diversity and structure of plantation forests should be taken into account when making future plantation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is commonly consumed around the world and has recently become an economical crop in Eastern Thailand, especially the Barhi cultivar that can be consumed as fresh fruit. To maintain genetic qualities, date palm is populated through cell culture. This leads to high production costs, while access to this technique is limited. Increasing date palm population by simple seed planting is currently of interest as an alternative for local farmers. Nevertheless, information on nutritive values, bioactive compounds, and health-promoting bioactivities of seed originating from date palm fruit is unavailable. Effects of different planting origins (cell culture origin (CO) and seed origin (SO)) of date palm fruits at the Khalal stage of Barhi cultivar were investigated for nutritive values, bioactive compounds, and in vitro health-promoting properties via key enzyme inhibitions against obesity (lipase), diabetes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV), Alzheimer’s disease (cholinesterases and β-secretase), and hypertension (angiotensin-converting enzyme). Waste seeds as a by-product from date palm production were also examined regarding these properties to increase seed marketing opportunities for future food applications and other health-related products. CO and SO exhibited insignificant differences in energy, fat, and carbohydrate contents. SO had higher protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, and calcium contents than CO, while CO contained higher contents of fructose, glucose and maltose. Higher phenolic contents in SO led to greater enzyme inhibitory activities than CO. Interestingly, seeds of date palm fruits mostly contained higher nutritive values than the flesh. No carotenoids were detected in seeds but higher phenolic contents resulted in greater enzyme inhibitory activities than recorded for fruit flesh. Results suggest that appropriate planting of date palm can support the development of novel date palm fruit products, leading to expansion of economic opportunities and investment in date palm fruit agriculture.

The aim of the present work is to study possible differences in the germination behavior of apical and basal seeds (produced in the upper and lower fruits of the infruitescence), of two populations of field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), both produced in a Mediterranean and a continental temperate climate. The results showed that among the three studied factors (population, seed type, production site), only the production site was relevant for the total germination, germinating those produced in Morris in a greater amount than those produced in Lleida. Germination models could be applied only to seeds produced at Morris (>10% germination), and despite the lack of differences in the total germination percentage, germination rates (speed—b parameter—and time to 50% germination—G50) differed between population and seed types—apical seeds from the Spanish population germinated faster (lower b parameter) than the rest, while apical seeds of both populations germinated faster than the corresponding basal seeds (lower G50). The results show, on the one hand, the importance of the seed production site if this species was considered as a commercial oilseed crop and, on the other hand, differences that will help seed selection for seed germination and establishment improvement of pennycress.

To investigate the effect of seed origin on the nutritive value of narrowleaf birdsfoot trefoil (NBT, Lotus tenuis Waldst.&Kit.), seeds of 86 NBT populations were collected from plants spontaneously occurring in natural pastures and rangelands located at different geographical gradients of the Black Sea Region, Turkey. Some nutrient contents of these populations regrown under the same conditions were determined. Minimum and maximum values with regard to the crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), Ca, P, Mg, K and condensed tannin contents, relative feed value, Ca P-1 and K (Ca+Mg)-1 ratios were found as 176.83 and 238.87, 201.00 and 351.61, 307.19 and 435.48, 15.01 and 21.60, 2.18 and 3.77, 3.03 and 4.02, 8.43 and 16.69, 20.00 and 31.50 g kg-1 dry matter, 189.70 and 263.41, 4.73 and 9.57, 0.35 and 0.88, respectively. The effects of seed genotype from different altitudes (Ca P-1), latitudes (digestible dry matter and ADF) and longitudes (CP and Mg) on some nutrient contents and feed values were found significant (P

Abstract When considering options for adapting forests under climate change, climate is treated as the dominant driver of forest growth, while soil properties are often ignored mainly due to shortage of accurate data. The effects of climate and soil on forest growth may vary due to local adaptation to both climate and soil, and these local adaptations might need to be considered when transferring seed provenances under climate change. Data from 29 provenance trials of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) across a wide gradient of planting conditions in Austria was used to develop Structural Equation Models (SEMs) to quantified the role of climatic and soil drivers and their interactions on juvenile growth performance and to test if provenance origin affects the relative importance of these drivers. Climate and soil of the planting site location were found to have similar direct effects on juvenile tree growth, however, climate was found to be more important because of additional indirect effects via interactions with soil parameters. Notably, the relative effects of climate and soil vary among different provenance groups. Climate constraints are dominant for seed sources originating from colder and/or high altitude locations, while test site climate and soil are equally important contributors of growth for provenances originating from warmer origin and lower elevation sites. Together with the better growth performance of the latter provenance group their plasticity allows them to utilize a wide range of soil conditions. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • We disentangle the relative roles of climate and soil of planting locations and provenance origins on juvenile tree growth. • Climate and soil of the planting location are dominant drivers of growth wheras provenance origin play minor role. • The relative effects of climate and soil vary among different provenance groups • Climatic constraints are dominant, if materials from colder origin and higher altitude are planted. • Soil and climate conditions are equally important if provenances originating from warm sites planted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied field performance of containerised Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies seedlings of different provenances. Shoot height, needle chemical composition, root collar diameter, root mycorrhization and mycorrhizal species composition were evaluated after four growing seasons following outplanting. The results showed that in general spruce had better survival than pine. Ectomycorrhizas on spruce were dominated by Wilcoxina, Amphinema and Tylospora, while on pine - by Suillus and Thelephora species. Spruce and pine showing best growth rates were colonised by ectomycorrhizal fungus Amphinema sp. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that forest nursery practices as well as provenance can significantly impact survival, growth and mycorrhization of the containerised pine and spruce seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitaria insularis (sourgrass) is a weed problem emerging in importance in agricultural fields from the north of Argentina and has recently been reported as resistant to glyphosate. Understanding the germination of local biotypes of D. insularis could help to reduce invasion and improve the long-term management strategies for this weed. The objective of this work was to study the effect of environmental factors on germination of D. insularis seeds from two different populations of Argentina. Three experiments were performed in germination chambers by using recently dispersed seeds. Seeds with or without pre-chilling treatments had 95% germination, suggesting the absence of dormancy in freshly harvested seed. Germination at constant temperature of 258ҘC was ∼55% lower than germination at fluctuating temperature of 208°-358°C. At constant 258C, germination was higher for seeds from Santiago del Estero than seeds from Córdoba, and as the number of hydration-dehydration cycles increased. Germination was reduced with exposure to far-red light for 1 h. Any crop management decision that reduces soil thermal fluctuations and/or far-red : red ratio (such as stubble or cover crops) could reduce seedling field emergence for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recommendations on suitable seed sources for reforestation are usually model based and include uncertainties arising from model assumptions, parameter estimation, and future climate scenarios. Due to the long-lived nature of forests, such uncertainties need to be considered when developing guidance for managers and policy makers. We evaluate the uncertainties and apply our recently developed genetically based models, Universal Response Functions (URFs) in Austria and Germany. The URFs predict growth performance (dominant height and basal area at age 24) of Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirbel] Franco) populations, as a function of both environmental and genetic factors. We evaluated the URFs by comparing the predicted height growth performances with observations from independent provenance trial data across Europe. Also, the sensitivity of the URF variables and the overall model uncertainty were estimated and compared to the uncertainty due to climate change projections. Model evaluation suggests that the URFs perform better in Central and Southeastern Europe compared to maritime Western Europe. Summer drought and mean annual temperature of planting sites were the most sensitive variables of the models, whereas the mean annual temperature of seed origin was the least sensitive. Model uncertainty increased with mean annual temperature of the planting site. Uncertainty due to projected future climate was found to be higher than the model uncertainty. The URFs predicted that provenance regions of southwest Germany and southeast Austria below 1500 m altitude will be suitable, whereas Pannonian east of Austria will become less suitable for growing Douglas-fir in future. Current seed stands in North America providing planting materials for Europe under the legal framework of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development shall continue to provide the most suitable seed material also in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of seed origin on the nutrient content and nutritive value of birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus L.), seeds of wild birdsfoot trefoil (WBT) communities were collected from plants spontaneously occurring in pasture, rangelands and silvopastoral areas located at four altitudes, two latitudes and eight longitudes ranges of the Black Sea Region, Turkey. The relative feed value (RFV) and metabolizable energy (ME), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) and condensed tannins (CT) contents, K/(Ca + Mg) and Ca/P ratios of 126 populations from these seeds collected from different locations and grown under the same climatic conditions were determined. Altitude was significantly correlated with the abundance of WBT (r = 0.71). The abundance of population (percentage of WBT populations) in the silvopastoral areas (58.4 %) was higher than that in upland (5.6 %), pasture (16.7 %) and rangeland (19.3 %). The ME, RFV and ADF, NDF, P, K and CT contents of populations were not influenced by altitudinal and geographical gradients. There were obvious effects of altitude on Ca and Mg, of latitude on Ca and of longitude on CP, Ca and Mg, and also on Ca/P and K/(Ca + Mg) ratios. This study provided information on genetic potentials of WBT populations in terms of nutritional properties. The results indicated that seeds selected from the populations that have high feed value can be used to improve the studied areas or artificial pasture and agroforest landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native plants are increasingly used for revegetation and restoration. These plants are cultivated for several generations at plant nurseries and often they are of unknown provenance. Therefore, cultivated plants often differ from their wild progenitors in life-history traits. Using germination behavior as example, we tested the assumption that cultivated plants have different life-history traits than their uncultivated progenitors. Cultivated as well as wild individuals of Plantago lanceolata and Lotus corniculatus, two species frequently used in revegetation, were tested in a common garden experiment as well as in incubators for their germination behavior. We observed significantly faster and more abundant germination in cultivated varieties. Using artificial crossings, we found that also hybrids of cultivated varieties and wild relatives germinate faster and more abundant than the wilds. As wild plants acquire their life-history traits by natural selection, we have to assume that they represent the optimal adaptation to the environmental conditions. If these traits are changed by cultivation or by hybridization between cultivated varieties and local populations, the long-term survival probabilities of local populations may be altered. Therefore, the use of cultivated varieties of native plants should be avoided in revegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One challenge of ex situ conservation is developing propagation methods that promote a high rate of survival and genetic diversity. Developing successful propagation methods is especially important for rare species to prevent their extinction. Clasping warea, Warea amplexifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. (Brassicaceae), and scrub lupine, Lupinus aridorum McFarlin ex Beckner (Fabaceae), are two rare species endemic to imperiled Florida sandhill and scrub habitats, respectively. We tested whether the collection site of seeds, seed stratification temperature, and several propagation methods influenced germination and initial survival of W. amplexifolia and L. aridorum. The collection site of seeds and type of pot influenced percent germination of W. amplexifolia, whereas soaking seeds in water and stratification temperature did not. The site where seeds were collected did not influence germination of L. aridorum and treating seedlings with salicylic acid, nitrogen, or salicylic acid and nitrogen sometimes reduced, but did not increase, initial survival of seedlings. Overall, our results will inform additional experiments on ex situ conservation and may be applicable to other herbs endemic to Florida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The conservation of biodiversity in agro-ecosystems is closely related to land use. Intensive land use is considered to be a major cause of biodiversity loss. Most studies addressing the effect of land use intensity on biodiversity have compared organic and conventional systems. However, little is known about the heterogeneity of the management intensity within each farming system. We hypothesise that there is a gradient of land use between and within the farming systems and that an index of management intensity is more useful than the farming system for evaluating the effects of the management practices on weed flora. In this study, 18 pairs of organic and conventional cereal fields were selected in northeastern Spain. The farmers were interviewed to gather information on the management practices performed. We selected the five following variables from these interviews: nitrogen inputs, crop diversity, weed control, seed origin and cereal ratio. We used principal components analysis to create a new management index. Weed species richness was recorded in 10 field pairs before crop harvest. Our results showed that the index values displayed huge variation within each farming system. Index values of conventional fields varied between −0.01 and 1.00, whereas within organic ones the values ranged from −1.19 to 0.18. The index better explained weed species richness than did the farming system. The index values demonstrate the existence of a land use intensity gradient, which indicates that it is an over-simplification to always equate organic farming with low intensity management. Here, we also prove that this new index is more appropriate for evaluating the effects of management practices on weed species richness than the classical organic-conventional dichotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral diseases are a serious limitation to the tomato crop in the region of València, Spain. A survey of tomato viruses in open field cultivation plots was made in the three provinces of this region. A total of 228 plots classified according to the origin of the seed (farmer seed plots or commercial seed plots) were surveyed, from which 1300 individual plants were sampled and tested for Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), Parietaria mottle virus (PMoV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and for the tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD). Virus infection was detected in 58.9% of the plants sampled and in 86.0% of the plots surveyed. All these viruses were detected, and the most prevalent were ToMV and PVY (34.1% and 27.1% of infected plants, respectively), but PMoV and TYLCD were the less prevalent (1.2% and 1.3% of infected plants, respectively). Differences among provinces and seed origin were found for most of the viruses studied. In particular, both ToMV and PVY had a higher level of infection in plants from farmer seed plots than in commercial seed plots, which accounts for the higher percentage of virus-infected plants in the former (64.2%) when compared to the latter (49.1%). Single and multiple infections were found in 42.38% and 16.54% of the samples, respectively. The most common multiple infection was of ToMV, PVY or both. These results show that the percentage of infected plants and plots in open field cultivation is very high in this region and the origin of the seed is an important factor in the incidence of virus infection. In this respect, preventive measures, including virus-free seed, resistant cultivars and improved cultural practices, could reduce the incidence of virus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased translocation of plant species for biodiversity restoration and habitat creation has provoked a debate on provenance and genotypic diversity of the used plant material. Nonlocal provenances are often not adapted to the local environmental conditions, and low population genotypic diversity may result in genetic bottlenecks hampering successful establishment. We tested provenance differentiation of four plant species used in agri-environment schemes to increase biodiversity of agricultural landscapes (wildflower strips). Provenances were collected close to the experimental field and at four further sites of different distances ranging from 120 to 900 km. In two of these provenances, different levels of genotypic diversity were simulated by sowing seed from a high and low number of mother plants. We found a large provenance differentiation in fitness-related traits, particularly in seedling emergence. There was no evidence for a general superiority of the local population. The productivity was greater in populations of high genotypic diversity than in those of low diversity, but the effect was only significant in one species. Productivity was also more constant among populations of high diversity, reducing the risk of establishment failure. Our results indicate that the choice of an appropriate provenance and a sufficient genotypic diversity are important issues in ecological restoration. The use of local provenances does not always guarantee the best performance, but a spread of superior alien genotypes can be avoided. A sufficient genotypic diversity of the sown plants might be a biological insurance against fluctuations in ecosystem processes increasing the reliability of restoration measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the relative importance of distance (geographical or ecological) as a consideration when collecting seeds for restoration projects, there is a need for more research on regional and ecotypic variation in a range of species. We used Lotus corniculatus L., a legume frequently included in grassland seed mixes, to investigate phenotypic variation between British accessions in a common garden experiment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of seed origin on plant phenotype and fecundity and to determine whether there was any evidence of correlation with distance (geographical or ecological) in populations grown from seed collected from different locations. Regional differences were detected in plant size, growth habit, pubescence, leaf shape, and fecundity. Geographical distance between sites was shown to be positively correlated with an increased difference in seed yield. Differences in size, growth habit, and leaf shape between paired habitats of origin within region and also between “ecotypes” were evident. However, there was no correlation between ecological distance and any of the measured traits. These findings suggest that: (1) Differences in phenotype and fecundity between geographically separated populations of L. corniculatus may be sufficient to lead to differences in survival and fitness when seeds are sown in a restoration environment. (2) Although it is important to consider geographical location, the choice of habitat within region is also important because phenotypic variation between ecotypes may have long-term consequences for plant persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Do short-term seed-addition experiments reliably tell us about seed limitation of perennial species? Does seed provenance affect recruitment success? Locations: Three dry grassland sites (Negrentino, Poma, San Giorgio), southern Switzerland. Methods: 18000 seeds of Bromus erectus of three provenances were sown in a reciprocal design with temporal replication. Frequent checks were made of all emerged individuals of two seed cohorts over three years and continued annual checks of one cohort until year eight. Performance was determined by number and size of emerging and surviving individuals and a combined measure of population vigour. Results: From a three-year perspective, all sites appeared to be seed limited, and differences due to seed provenance were small. Over five years, two sites showed an increasingly superior performance of the local over the foreign populations. At one of these two sites, average individuals remained small and a decrease in number and individual phytomass since the fifth year suggested complete microsite limitation. Reproductive individuals only occurred at the other sites and confirmed seed limitation after eight years. The best performing site had the first reproductive individuals in the fourth year. Conclusions: B. erectus showed a long pre-reproductive phase during which the prediction of establishment success by individual counts can be misleading if plant size is not also measured. The effect of seed provenance was clearly indicated where populations established most successfully and local- over-foreign superiority increased with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scots pine [ Pinus sylvestris L. (Pinaceae)] trees with four different seed origins were exposed to exogenous applications of the elicitor, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), for three consecutive years. We studied the effects of MeJA on needle chemistry (including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and tricyclic resin acids), plant growth, and the performance of two diprionid sawflies, the European pine sawfly ( Neodiprion sertifer Geoffr.) and the common pine sawfly ( Diprion pini L.) (both Hymenoptera: Diprionidae). In general, foliar MeJA application affected the whole range of needle secondary chemistry with significantly higher concentrations of two monoterpenes, β-pinene and limonene, in particular. Furthermore, for some seed origins the growth rates of N. sertifer and D. pini larvae were lower on needles of MeJA-treated plants with either high total terpene or high resin acid concentrations. However, inconsistencies in diprionid sawfly performance within each studied Scots pine origin suggest genetic variance in needle secondary chemistry. The differences between selected seed origins and notably variable responses to MeJA application imply that adaptation of the seed to new conditions may have had an impact on secondary chemistry and, thus, on insect performance. Finally, our results suggest that modification of Scots pine defence by a low-concentration exogenous elicitor affects the production of terpenoids in the newly growing needles, leading to poorer pine sawfly performance in origins with high terpenoid content, while not harming the growth of Scots pine trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basic & Applied Ecology is the property of Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A modified tetrazolium method was formulated for use with seeds of Western European orchids. The sequence of treatments which gave the highest percentage of coloured (i.e. viable) embryos was: (1) pretreatment in a solution of 5% (w/v) Ca(OCl)2+ 1% (v/v) Tween‐80, (2) soaking for 1 day in sterile water, (3) the classical tetrazolium test. The optimal duration of the pretreatment in Ca(OCl)2+ Tween‐80 depends upon the species, and to investigate the effect a scanning electron microscopy study was performed on the testa of 3 species. For a given species, the optimal pretreatment period was not affected by the year of harvest or the source of the seed lots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is commonly consumed around the world and has recently become an economical crop in Eastern Thailand, especially the Barhi cultivar that can be consumed as fresh fruit. To maintain genetic qualities, date palm is populated through cell culture. This leads to high production costs, while access to this technique is limited. Increasing date palm population by simple seed planting is currently of interest as an alternative for local farmers. Nevertheless, information on nutritive values, bioactive compounds, and health-promoting bioactivities of seed originating from date palm fruit is unavailable. Effects of different planting origins (cell culture origin (CO) and seed origin (SO)) of date palm fruits at the Khalal stage of Barhi cultivar were investigated for nutritive values, bioactive compounds, and in vitro health-promoting properties via key enzyme inhibitions against obesity (lipase), diabetes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV), Alzheimer's disease (cholinesterases and β-secretase), and hypertension (angiotensin-converting enzyme). Waste seeds as a by-product from date palm production were also examined regarding these properties to increase seed marketing opportunities for future food applications and other health-related products. CO and SO exhibited insignificant differences in energy, fat, and carbohydrate contents. SO had higher protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, and calcium contents than CO, while CO contained higher contents of fructose, glucose and maltose. Higher phenolic contents in SO led to greater enzyme inhibitory activities than CO. Interestingly, seeds of date palm fruits mostly contained higher nutritive values than the flesh. No carotenoids were detected in seeds but higher phenolic contents resulted in greater enzyme inhibitory activities than recorded for fruit flesh. Results suggest that appropriate planting of date palm can support the development of novel date palm fruit products, leading to expansion of economic opportunities and investment in date palm fruit agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work is to study possible differences in the germination behavior of apical and basal seeds (produced in the upper and lower fruits of the infruitescence), of two populations of field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), both produced in a Mediterranean and a continental temperate climate. The results showed that among the three studied factors (population, seed type, production site), only the production site was relevant for the total germination, germinating those produced in Morris in a greater amount than those produced in Lleida. Germination models could be applied only to seeds produced at Morris (>10% germination), and despite the lack of differences in the total germination percentage, germination rates (speed—b parameter—and time to 50% germination—G50) differed between population and seed types—apical seeds from the Spanish population germinated faster (lower b parameter) than the rest, while apical seeds of both populations germinated faster than the corresponding basal seeds (lower G50). The results show, on the one hand, the importance of the seed production site if this species was considered as a commercial oilseed crop and, on the other hand, differences that will help seed selection for seed germination and establishment improvement of pennycress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]