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Physiological Ecology of Mediterranean Seeds: Links with Ex Situ Conservation of Plants

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Landscape Disturbance and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 136))

Abstract

Seed biology studies in Mediterranean type ecosystems are relatively numerous and document interesting peculiarities in the seed germination behavior. Some peculiar germination syndromes will be described later in this chapter. Seed studies become most important because the Mediterranean ecosystems are among the most intensely utilized by man, consequently they are usually severely altered by anthropogenic disturbances. Many plant species populations have been currently reduced to dangerously low numbers, which may not insure self perpetuation of local ecotypes or entire species. Among the available germplasm conservation procedures, ex situ and in vitro preservation of seeds and explants are life insurance alternatives for valuable germplasm that must not be ignored. Seed storage has been undertaken by many botanic gardens and research institutions and it is now the most widely utilized ex situ conservation approach and is it currently in operation in some Mediterranean regions (Gómez-Campo 1985, 1987; Hernández-Bermejo and Heywood 1990).

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Authors
  1. C. Vázquez-Yanes
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  2. A. Orozco-Segovia
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of California (UCLA), 900 Veteran Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Philip W. Rundel

  2. Departamento de Ecología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile

    Gloria Montenegro  & Fabian M. Jaksic  & 

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Vázquez-Yanes, C., Orozco-Segovia, A. (1998). Physiological Ecology of Mediterranean Seeds: Links with Ex Situ Conservation of Plants. In: Rundel, P.W., Montenegro, G., Jaksic, F.M. (eds) Landscape Disturbance and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems. Ecological Studies, vol 136. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03543-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03543-6_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-08416-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-03543-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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