Plant Diversity ›› 2009, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (1): 42-48.DOI: 10.3724 SP.J.1143.2009.08104

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Physiological and Ecological Characteristics of Seed Germination of Endangered Hopea mollissima (Dipterocarpaceae)

WEN Bin , HE Hui-Ying , WANG Ru-Ling , TAN Yun-Hong , LAN Qin-Ying   

  1. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303 , China
  • Received:2008-06-03 Online:2009-02-25 Published:2009-02-25
  • Contact: WEN Bin

Abstract: Seed longevity of Hopea mollissima under ambient conditions and the effects of seed maturity, temperature , illumination and soil moisture content on seed germination were studied in this paper , which indicated that the optimum temperature for seed germination was 25℃ though 20 - 30℃ is suitable; Periodic illumination and full darkness made no significant
difference to germination , but seeds germinated best at temperature range of 25 - 30℃ under periodic illumination, or at temperature range of 20 - 25℃ under full darkness; The suitable soil moisture content was 20%- 60% while the optimum one was 50%- 60%; During open storage under ambient conditions, seed germination percentage halved after 10 days and decreased to nil after 16 days . It appears that this species depended on its native habitat strongly . Deforestation and fragmentation are the key causes which endanger Hopea mollissima severely . Owning to recalcitrant properties of its seeds, the protection of this species relies on in-situ conservation supplemented with ex-situ conservation of living plants .

Key words: Hopea mollissima

CLC Number: