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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2000; 2(6): 612-617
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-16638
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Effect of Temperature on Germination in Northernmost Populations of Culcita macrocarpa and Woodwardia radicans

L. G. Quintanilla 1,3 , S. Pajarón 2 , E. Pangua 2 , J. Amigo 1
  • 1 Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal, Facultade de Farmacia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • 2 Departamento de Biología Vegetal I, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
  • 3 Present address: Departamento de Biología Vegetal I, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

April 27, 2000

October 11, 2000

Publication Date:
27 August 2001 (online)

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Abstract

Spore germination of Culcita macrocarpa C. Presl and Woodwardia radicans (L.) Sm. from nine populations at the northern limit of their distribution, in the northwest Iberian Peninsula, was investigated. In a first experiment, population type and temperature (10, 15, 20, and 25 °C) were both found to affect germination percentage and germination time significantly in both species. There were also significant interactions between the two factors with respect to the percentage germination of C. macrocarpa and the germination time of W. radicans. In C. macrocarpa there was an outstanding increase in germination time at 15 °C and, above all, at 10 °C, whereas in W. radicans the most remarkable result was the existence of two populations with especially low germination percentages. In a second experiment, germination of 20 individuals from each population of W. radicans was compared with similar inter-population differentiation. Although its variability possibly has a genetic basis, these species are able to germinate successfully, and it seems probable that the season in which it occurs depends more on spore release than on thermal conditions in the populations. The effect of temperature on germination in both species does not explain their coastal distribution. Temperature is probably more important in limiting other stages of the life cycle.

Key words

Germination - temperature - population - Culcita macrocarpa - Woodwardia radicans - Iberian Peninsula

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L. G. Quintanilla

Departamento de Biología Vegetal I
Facultad de Biología
Universidad Complutense

28040 Madrid
Spain

Email: lugarqui@eucmos.sim.ucm.es

Section Editor: U. Lüttge