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Seed development and germination ecophysiology of the invasive tree Prunus serotina (Rosaceae) in a temperate forest in Western Europe

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Abstract

Seed development, dormancy and germination of the American invasive tree species, Prunus serotina, are described for plants growing in a large forest in Belgium. Seeds of P. serotina were collected following anthesis in the first week of July and thereafter at fortnightly intervals. Seed dormancy, temperature requirements for germination and the soil seed bank were investigated. At maturation (about 105 days after anthesis), seed moisture content had decreased to around 13.7%, and 44% of the seeds had attained the capacity to germinate. Mature seeds of P. serotina exhibited physiological dormancy, germinating only after a long cold, moist stratification period. Highest germination percentage occurred in seeds treated with gibberellic acid (GA3), at 10°C. We found no evidence that P. serotina forms a persistent seed bank but noticed a persistent seedling bank in the field.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express grateful thanks to Prof. Carol C. Baskin and Prof. Jerry M. Baskin, Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA, and three anonymous referees for critical reviews of earlier drafts of the manuscript, which helped in improving the presentation of the material. The research was supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the framework of the action ≪Research in Brussels≫ (post-doc grant RIB2001-006).

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Author notes

  1. Shyam S. Phartyal

    Present address: Department of Forestry, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar-Garhwal, India

  2. Sandrine Godefroid

    Present address: National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Domein van Bouchout, 1860, Meise, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management (APNA), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium

    Shyam S. Phartyal, Sandrine Godefroid & Nico Koedam

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  1. Shyam S. Phartyal
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  2. Sandrine Godefroid
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  3. Nico Koedam
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Correspondence to Sandrine Godefroid.

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Phartyal, S.S., Godefroid, S. & Koedam, N. Seed development and germination ecophysiology of the invasive tree Prunus serotina (Rosaceae) in a temperate forest in Western Europe. Plant Ecol 204, 285–294 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-009-9591-6

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