Rainfall seasonality predicts the germination behavior of a tropical dry-forest vine.

ABSTRACT: Seed dormancy is considered to be an adaptive strategy in seasonal and/or unpredictable environments because it prevents germination during climatically favorable periods that are too short for seedling establishment. Tropical dry forests are seasonal environments where seed dormancy may play an important role in plant resilience and resistance to changing precipitation patterns. We studied the germination behavior of seeds from six populations of the Neotropical vine Dalechampia scandens (Euphorbiaceae) originating from environments of contrasting rainfall seasonality. Seeds produced by second greenhouse-generation plants were measured and exposed to a favorable wet environment at different time intervals after capsule dehiscence and seed dispersal. We recorded the success and the

SUBMITTER: Martins AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6509399 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature