Physical seed damage, not rodent's saliva, accelerates seed germination of trees in a subtropical forest.

ABSTRACT: Many tree species adopt fast seed germination to escape the predation risk by rodents. Physical seed damage and the saliva of rodents on partially consumed seeds may act as cues for seeds to accelerate germination process. However, the impacts of these factors on seed germination rate and speed remain unclear. In this study, we investigated such impacts on the germination rate and speed (reversal of germination time) of four tree species (Quercus variabilis, Q. serrata, Q. acutissima, Q. glauca) after partial consumption by four rodent species (Leopoldamys edwards, Niviventer fulvescens, N. confucianus, Apodemus draco), through a series of experiments. We also examined how seed traits may affect the seed damage degree by rodents by an

SUBMITTER: Zhu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11254781 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature