Register      Login
International Journal of Wildland Fire International Journal of Wildland Fire Society
Journal of the International Association of Wildland Fire
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > WF > WF06001
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 16(1)

Effect of high temperatures on seed germination and seedling survival in three pine species (Pinus pinaster, P. sylvestris and P. nigra)

R. Alvarez A C , L. Valbuena B and L. Calvo B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Área de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Sur, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

B Área de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain.

C Corresponding author. Email: ecoraf@usc.es

International Journal of Wildland Fire 16(1) 63-70 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF06001
Published: 20 February 2007

Abstract

In the present study, we analyse the germination and seedling growth of three Pinus species (P. pinaster, P. sylvestris and P. nigra) under laboratory conditions after thermal shocks simulating the temperature effects of fire. Temperatures up to 150°C and 5 min exposure show negative effects on the percentage germination of P. pinaster seeds. P. sylvestris and P. nigra cannot stand temperatures greater than 110°C and 5 min exposure. In all three species, thermal shocks delay the start of germination. In addition, seeds from P. pinaster germinate over a longer time range. Seedling aerial growth after germination is influenced by high temperatures in P. sylvestris and P. nigra, but not in P. pinaster. Finally, thermal shocks produce a reduction in root growth in comparison with aerial growth in P. sylvestris.

Additional keywords: dormancy, mean germination time, seedling growth, thermal shock, viability.


References


Alonso I, Luis E , Tárrega R (1992) First phases of regeneration of Cistus laurifolius and Cistus ladanifer after burning and cutting in experimental plots. International Journal of Wildland Fire  2, 7–14.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Álvarez R (2003) Viabilidad de semillas y plántulas de Pinus pinaster, Pinus sylvestris y Pinus nigra después de diferentes tratamientos experimentales. Memoria de Licenciatura, Universidad de León, León.

Álvarez R, Valvuena L , Calvo L (2005) Influence of tree age on seed germination response to environmental factors and inhibitory substances in Pinus pinaster. International Journal of Wildland Fire  14, 277–284.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Anderson J (2004) El estrés por altas temperaturas en las plantas. In ‘La Ecofisiología Vegetal’. (Eds MJ Reigosa, N Pedrol, A Sánchez) pp. 223–252. (Thomson-Paraninfoa: Madrid)

Besnier Romero F (1989) ‘Semillas. Biología y Tecnología.’ (Mundiprensa: Madrid)

Bewley JD, Black M (1994) ‘Seeds. Physiology of Development and Germination.’ (Plenum Press: New York)

Calvo L, Tárrega R , Luis E (1991) Regeneration in Quercus pyrenaica ecosystems after surface fires. International Journal of Wildland Fire  1, 205–210.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Castro JF, Bento J, Rego F (1990) Regeneration of Pinus pinaster forest after wildfire. In ‘Fire in Ecosystems Dynamics’. (Eds JG Goldammer, MJ Jenkins) pp. 71–75. (SPB Academic Publishing: the Hague)

Cochran WG (1941) The distribution of the largest of a set of estimated variances as a fraction of their total. Annals of Eugenics  11, 47–61.
Côme D (1970) ‘Les Obstacles à la Germination.’ (Mason: Paris)

Côte M, Ferron J , Gagnon R (2003) Impact of seed and seedling predation by small rodents on early regeneration establishment of black spruce. Canadian Journal of Forest Research  33, 2362–2371.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | De las Heras J, López R, Gómez E, Corcoles D, Alfaro H, Ferrandis P (1997) Efecto de un fuego controlado sobre la diseminación y viabilidad de semillas de Pinus halepensis Miller. In ‘Actas del I Congreso Forestal Hispano-Luso y II Congreso Forestal Español’. (Eds F Puertas Tricas, M Rivas) pp. 173–177. (Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales: Iratí, Spain)

di Castri F, Mooney HA (1973) ‘Mediterranean Type Ecosystems: Origin and Structure.’ (Springer-Verlag: New York)

Elvira LM, Hernándo C (1989) ‘Inflamabilidad y Energía de las Especies del Sotobosque.’ Monograph. (INIA: Madrid)

Escudero A, Barrero S , Pita JM (1997) Effects of high temperatures and ash on seed germination of two Iberian pines (Pinus nigra ssp. salzmannii, Pinus sylvestris var. iberica). Annales Des Sciences Forestières  54, 553–562.
García-Fayos P, Gulias J, Martínez J, Marzo A, Melero JP, et al. (2001) ‘Bases Ecológicas para la Recolección, Almacenamiento y Germinación de las Semillas de Especies de uso Forestal de la Comunidad Valenciana.’ (Banc de Llavors Forestals: Valencia)

Gracia C, Sabate S (1996) La resposta de las vegetació al foc: els canvis en l’estrutura de la vegetació. In ‘Ecologia del Foc’. (Ed. J Terradas) pp. 162–172. (Proa: Barcelona)

Gill AM, Groves RH, Noble IR (1981) ‘Fire and the Australian Biota.’ (Australian Academy of Science: Canberra)

Habrouk A, Retana J , Espelta JM (1999) Role of heat tolerance and cone protection of seeds in the response of three pine species to wildfires. Plant Ecology  145, 91–99.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Ibáñez JJ, Retana J (1997) La regeneración en un gran incendio forestal. In ‘Actas de V Jornadas Asociación Española de Ecología Terrestre’. (Ed. J Haeger) p. 73. (Córdoba)

Kandya AK , Ogino K (1986) Reserve dry weight of seed: a significant factor governing the germination potential of seeds in some conifers. Journal of Tropical Forestry  2, 21–26.
Lanner RM (1998) Seed dispersal in Pinus. In ‘Ecology and Biogeography of Pinus’. (Ed. DM Richardson) pp. 281–295. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge)

Lloret F, Retana J, Espelta JM (1996). Efectes dels focs i mecanismes de regeneració de les plantes. In ‘Ecologia del Foc’. (Ed. J Terradas) pp. 141–156. (Ediciones Proa: Barcelona)

Lloret F, Casanovas C , Peñuelas J (1999) Seedling survival of Mediterranean shrubland species in relation to root : shoot ratio, seed size and water and nitrogen use. Functional Ecology  13, 210–216.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Moreno JM, Cruz A (2000) La respuesta de las plantas al fuego. In ‘La Defensa Contra incendios forestales. Fundamentos y Experiencias’. (Ed. R Vélez) pp. 4.13–4.36. (Mc Graw Hill: Madrid)

Naveh Z (1975) The evolutionary significance of fire in the Mediterranean region. Vegetatio  29, 199–208.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Ordóñez García JL (2004) Análisis y modelización del reclutamiento de Pinus nigra en zonas afectadas por grandes incendios. PhD Thesis, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.

Panayiotopoulos P, Thanos CA (2002) Cone–seed biometry and germination ecophysiology in Pinus nigra from several Greek provenances. In ‘TREE SEEDS 2002. Proceedings of the 2002 Annual Meeting of IUFRO, 2 September 2000. Research Group for Seed Physiology and Technology’. (Eds CA Thanos, TL Beardmore, KE Connor, EL Tolentino Jr) pp. 117–124. (University of Athens Publications: Chania, Crete)

Prada MA (1992) Viabilidad y letargo en semillas de conos serótinos de Pinus pinaster Ait. de la procedencia de Sierra de Teleno (León). Montes  28, 59–60.
Reyes O, Casal M (2002a) Experimental field emergence and early survival of six tree species in relation to forest fires. In ‘Fire and Biological Processes’. (Eds L Trabaud, R Prodon) pp. 277–290. (Backhuys Publishers: Leiden, the Netherlands)

Reyes O , Casal M (2002b) Role of fire on seed dissemination and germination of P. Pinaster and P. radiata. Nova Acta Científica Compostelana (Bioloxía)  12, 111–118.
Rivas-Martínez S (1987) ‘Memoria y Mapa de Series de Vegetación de España. 1 : 400 000.’ (ICONA, Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación: Madrid)

Rodrigo A, Retana J , Picó X (2004) Direct regeneration is not the only response of Mediterranean forests to large fires. Ecology  85, 716–729.
Skordilis A, Thanos CA (1997) Comparative ecophysiology of seed germination strategies in the seven pine species naturally growing in Greece. In ‘Basic and Applied Aspects of Seed Biology: Proceedings of the Fifth International Workshop on Seeds’. (Eds RH Ellis, M Black, AJ Murdoch, TD Hong) pp. 623–632. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht)

Stock WD (1990) Influence of seed size and quality on seedling development under low nutrient conditions in five Australian and South African members of the Proteaceae. Journal of Ecology  78, 1005–1020.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Tapias R, Gil L (2000) Adaptación reproductiva de las especies forestales ante el fuego. In ‘La Defensa Contra Incendios Forestales. Fundamentos y Experiencias’. (Ed. R Vélez) pp. 4.36–4.66. (Mc Graw Hill: Madrid)

Tapias R, Gil L , Pardos JA (1998) Los pinares (Pinus pinaster Ait.) de las estribaciones de Sierra de Teleno (León). La influencia del incendio en su ordenación. Montes  52, 115–120.
Thanos CA (1999) Fire effects on forest vegetation, the case of Mediterranean pine forest in Greece. In ‘Proceedings of Wildfire Management’. (Eds G Eftichidis, P Balabanis, A Ghazi) pp. 323–334. (Algosystems SA & European Commission DGXII: Athens)

Thanos CA , Marcou S (1991) Post-fire regeneration in Pinus brutia forest ecosystems of Samos island (Greece): 6 years after. Acta Oecologica  12, 633–642.
Torres Carretero O (2002) Regeneración y banco de semillas de Pinus pinaster después de un gran incendio en la Sierra del Teleno (León). Memoria de Licenciatura, Universidad de León, León.

Trabaud L (1979) Etude du comportement du feu dans la garrigue de chêne kermès à partir des températures et des vitesses de propagation. Annales Des Sciences Forestières  36, 13–38.
Trabaud L (1980) Impact biologique et écologique des feux de végétation sur l’organisation, la structure et l’évolution de la végétation des zones des garrigues du Bas-Languedoc. PhD Thesis, University of Montpellier, Montpellier.

Trabaud L (1983) Recovery of Pinus halepensis Mill. woodland after wildfire. DFFG-symposion Feuerökologie, Freiburger Waldschutz-Abhandlungen  4, 196–210.
Trabaud L (1987) Fire and the survival traits of plants. In ‘The Role of Fire in Ecological Systems’. (Ed. L Trabaud) pp. 65–89. (SPB Academic Publishing: the Hague)

Trabaud L (1991) Le feu est-il un facteur de changement pour les systémes écologiques du bassin méditerranéen? Sécheresse  2, 163–174.
Trabaud L (2000) Post-fire regeneration of Pinus halepensis forest in the west Mediterranean. In ‘Ecology, Biogeography and Management of Pinus halepensis and P. brutia Forest Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin’. (Eds G Ne’eman, L Trabaud) pp. 257–268. (Backhuys Publishers: Leiden)

Trabaud L , Campant C (1991) Difficulté de recolonisation naturelle du pin de Salzmann Pinus nigra spp salzmannii (Dunal) Franco après incendie. Biological Conservation  58, 329–343.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Valbuena L, Calvo L (1998) Seedling establishment after a wildfire in Pinus pinaster Aitone and Pinus nigra Arn. stands. In ‘III International Conference on Forest Fire Research’. (Ed. D Viegas) pp. 1901–1911. (ADI, University of Coimbra: Coimbra, Portugal)

Valbuena L , Trabaud L (1993) Estudio del banco de semillas de una repoblación de Pinus radiata incendiada. Studia Oecologica  X–XI, 359–365.
Vélez R (2000) ‘La defensa Contra Incendios Forestales. Fundamentos y Experiencias.’ (McGraw Hill: Madrid)

Vélez R (2004) La defensa contra incendios forestales en el Plan Forestal español. In ‘Proceedings of the 2nd Symposium on Fire Economics, Planning and policy: a Global View’. (Eds US Forest Service, Universidad de Córdoba) (Córdoba, Spain)

Westoby M, Jurado E , Leishman MR (1992) Comparative evolutionary ecology of seed size. Trends in Ecology & Evolution  7, 368–372.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |