Wildfires are predicted to increase with global climate change. Despite studies in several regions of the world indicating that burning smoke produced by wildfires may affect seed germination of some plants, little attention has been paid to this effect on wild plants in subtropical areas of China. In this study, seeds of 11 species from the Karst area of Guizhou province in China were collected for analysis. These seeds were treated with different concentrations of a plant-derived smoke solution prior to investigate seed germination parameters. We report that seven species out of the 11 tested germinated successfully, including five species which showed a positive germination response. Interestingly, we found that the seed germination percentage for Pyracantha fortuneana (Firethorn) and Osbeckia opipara seeds increased by 150% and 171% respectively following treatment with optimal smoke solution concentrations. However, smoke solution treatment had an inhibitory effect on the seed germination of one species and seed germination of one other species was unaffected by smoke solution exposure. Four species failed to germinate under our experimental conditions.
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