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- Title
Effects of Pinus pinea litter on seed germination and seedling performance of three Mediterranean shrub species.
- Authors
Valera-Burgos, Javier; Díaz-Barradas, Mari; Zunzunegui, María
- Abstract
Pinus pinea L. is a coniferous tree inhabiting the Mediterranean Basin, which appears widely distributed in the Iberian Peninsula, frequently associated to Mediterranean shrub species, such as Cistus salvifolius L., C. libanotis L. and Halimium halimifolium (L.) Willk. (Cistaceae). This study investigated the effects (chemical and physical) of P. pinea needles on the seed germination and early growth of these three shrub species. Laboratory experiments were carried out in order to assess an expected negative effect by using different treatments to seeds (physical layer and two aqueous extracts concentrations). Seed germination of all species was inhibited when treated with aqueous extracts and the degree of inhibition was higher when using the extract with the highest concentration, while no effect was observed with the physical layer treatment. Seedling performance was also sensitive to the different treatments, showing the most stressed values with the high concentration extract. The results from this study highlight the importance of allelopathy of P. pinea needles as a mechanism for controlling seed germination and seedling performance of some Mediterranean shrub species.
- Subjects
IBERIAN Peninsula; ITALIAN stone pine; SHRUBS; GERMINATION; SEED viability; PLANT ecology
- Publication
Plant Growth Regulation, 2012, Vol 66, Issue 3, p285
- ISSN
0167-6903
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10725-011-9652-4