Effect of litter and overlaying soil on seed germination of four Solanaceae species from Hexi Corridor

摘要

The probability of seedling survival and establishment is closely connected to the timing of germination. Since environmental conditions at the time of seed dispersal are frequently not suitable for seedling survival for many temperate species, they may have developed specific mechanisms for preventing germination immediately after shedding. The mature seeds have different fate after shedding, such as buried by sand, drifted on the soil, or covered by leaf litter. Germination behaviors may differ under various environmental conditions. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of four conditions including overlaying soil, litter cover, above-litter and room temperature on seed germination.