ABSTRACT - The effects of temperature on germination of seeds of Euphorbia dendroides L. from Italy and Albania - The influence of temperature on the germination process of Euphorbia dendroides L. of Italian and Albanian origin is examined in this paper. The results obtained show that this species does not undergo embryo dormancy and that the optimum temperatures for germination are between 12 and 24 °C, temperatures at which the process occurs quite rapidly. At lower temperatures there is a large reduction in the germination percentage that becomes zero at 3 °C. In addition, brief periods of low temperature are sufficient to block germination. These results have also enabled us to interpret the behaviour of this specie in a natural setting. In fact, despite spreading seeds between the end of May and the beginning of June, the species does not germinate in summer due to the water deficit but starts the process between September and November, when water is available along the Mediterranean coast and the temperature is not below 12 °C. Temperature is therefore confirmed as a climatic element that can affect the area of distribution of this species, limiting its range to the North and at altitude. The differences found in the germination behaviour between the Italian and Albanian populations show a greater sensitivity in the Italian population to deceases in temperature leading us to hypothesize both the existence of populations better adapted to the greater continentality of the Eastern sector of the area of distribution of the species and that the two origins represent clearly distinct ecological strains.

Effetti della temperatura sulla germinazione dei semi di Euphorbia dendroides L. di provenienza italiana ed albanese

CAVALLARO, Viviana;FORTE, Luigi;
2007-01-01

Abstract

ABSTRACT - The effects of temperature on germination of seeds of Euphorbia dendroides L. from Italy and Albania - The influence of temperature on the germination process of Euphorbia dendroides L. of Italian and Albanian origin is examined in this paper. The results obtained show that this species does not undergo embryo dormancy and that the optimum temperatures for germination are between 12 and 24 °C, temperatures at which the process occurs quite rapidly. At lower temperatures there is a large reduction in the germination percentage that becomes zero at 3 °C. In addition, brief periods of low temperature are sufficient to block germination. These results have also enabled us to interpret the behaviour of this specie in a natural setting. In fact, despite spreading seeds between the end of May and the beginning of June, the species does not germinate in summer due to the water deficit but starts the process between September and November, when water is available along the Mediterranean coast and the temperature is not below 12 °C. Temperature is therefore confirmed as a climatic element that can affect the area of distribution of this species, limiting its range to the North and at altitude. The differences found in the germination behaviour between the Italian and Albanian populations show a greater sensitivity in the Italian population to deceases in temperature leading us to hypothesize both the existence of populations better adapted to the greater continentality of the Eastern sector of the area of distribution of the species and that the two origins represent clearly distinct ecological strains.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11586/127215
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