Abstract
Seven out of the eleven European pine species grow naturally in Greece. Pinus halepensis, P. brutia and P. pinea are low-altitude, typical Mediterranean species. The Greek populations of P nigra, P. heldreichii, P. sylvestris and P. peuce grow in high altitudes and are located at the southern limits of their natural world distributions.
Seed germination data concerning temperature dependence as well as light and/ or stratification requirements are presented and discussed in relation to the individual species characteristics. Fire resilient P. halepensis and P. brutia are characterized by quite low germination in the dark, throughout their optimal temperature range (10–20°C); in addition, their germination is photosensitive (white-light promoted and far-red inhibited). Prolonged stratification is always beneficial to P brutia but detrimental to P halepensis seeds. Germination of P. pinea seeds is also slow but indifferent to light conditions and restricted to a very narrow temperature range, around 20°C. P. nigra seeds are fast germinating over a wide temperature range and rather indifferent to light. Germination of the deeply dormant P. heldreichii seeds as well as of the less dormant ones of P. sylvestris requires light and/or stratification.
By combining germination data for each species with the particular seasons of seed dispersal and the climatic conditions of the respective habitats, timing schedules of seed germination and subsequent seedling emergence in nature are proposed.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Borghetti, M., Verdramin, G.G., Giannini, R. and Schettino, A. 1989. Acta Ecologica- Œcologia Plantarum 10: 45–56.
Borghetti, M., Verdramin, G.G., Veneziano, A. and Giannini, R. 1986. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 16: 867–896.
Calamassi, R., Falusi, M. and Tocci, A. 1980. Annali dell’Istituto Sperimentaleper la Selvicoltura (Arezzo) 11:193–230.
Calamassi, R., Falusi, M. and Tocci, A. 1984. Silvae Genetica 33: 133–139.
Critchfield, W. and Little, E. 1969. USDA Forest Service, Miscellaneous Publication No. 991, 97 pp., Washington, D.C.
Daskalakou, E.N. and Thanos, C.A. 1994. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Forest Fire Research, Coimbra, Portugal 21–24 November 1994, Vol. II, pp. 1079–1088. (ed.D.X. Viegas)
Djordjeva, M. 1967. Bulletin Scientifique, Section A, Academic des Sciences RSF Yugoslavie 12:145.
Gaussen, H., Heywood, V.U. and Chater, A.O. 1993. In: Flora Europaea, Vol.I, pp. 40–44, (eds Tutin et al). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Greuter, W, Bürdet, H.M. and Long, G. 1984. Med-Checklist, Vol.1, pp. 33–35. Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de le Ville de Geneve.
Krugman, S.L. and Jenkinson, J. 1974. In: Seeds of Woody plants in the United States. USDA Forest Service, Handbookno 450. pp 598–638 (ed. C.S. Schopmeyer).
Little, E. and Critchfield, W. 1969. USDA Forest Service, Miscellaneous Publication No. 1144, 51 pp., Washington, D.C.
Magini, E. 1955. L’ Italia Forestale e Montana 10:106–124.
Masetti, C. and Mencuccini, M. 1991. Ecologia Mediterranea 17:103–118
McCune, B. 1988. American Journal of Botany 75: 353–368.
Ministry of Agriculture, Greece. 1992. Results of the First National Census of Forests. pp.134.
Paci, M. 1989. L’ Italia Forestale e Montana 44: 411–423.
Panetsos, C.P. 1975. Silvae Genetica 24:163–168.
Panetsos, C.P. 1981. Annales Forestales (Zagreb) 9: 39–77.
Pozzera, G. 1959. L’ Italia Forestale e Montana 14: 196–206.
Prus-Glowaski, W., Szweykowski, J. and Nowak, R. 1985. Silvae Genetica 34:162–110.
Skordilis, A. and Thanos, C.A. 1995. Seed Science Research 5: 151–160.
Strid, A. 1989. Mountain Flora of Greece. Vol.I. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Thanos, C.A. and Skordilis, A. 1987. Seed Science and Technology 15: 163–174.
Wilhelm, K. 1987. Plant Systematics and Evolution 162: 133–163.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Skordilis, A., Thanos, C.A. (1997). Comparative Ecophysiology of Seed Germination Strategies in the Seven Pine Species Naturally Growing in Greece. In: Ellis, R.H., Black, M., Murdoch, A.J., Hong, T.D. (eds) Basic and Applied Aspects of Seed Biology. Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture, vol 30. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5716-2_69
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5716-2_69
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6410-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-5716-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive