Storage duration, light, temperature and salinity exposure influence germination of the glycophyte Rhanterium epapposum

Regeneration of native species is the first priority for biodiversity conservation and restoration. To this end it is key to have seeds properly conserved in seed banks and knowledge of seed longevity and/or dormancy alleviation at different storage time intervals. In addition, understanding germination response of the stored seeds to environmental conditions improves the efficiency of restoration and rehabilitation projects. We investigated the influence of storage duration (1 to 5 years), light (0, 12 hours light), thermoperiod (night/day temperatures of 15/20 and 20/25C), and salinity (0, 100, 200 and 400 mM of NaCl) on seed germination of Rhanterium epapposum, a glycophytic species from the Arabian Peninsula. Seeds maintained viability after five years of storage indoors at room temperature. Three years of storage alleviated seed dormancy. Exposure to 12 hours light per day and 15/20C thermoperiods enhanced seed germination. Seeds were glycophytic; afteripened seeds exposed to salinity exhibited reduced germination that did not recover after salinity alleviation.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author