Germination results on dormant seeds of fifteen tree species autumn sown in a northern Greek nursery

摘要

In early December 1999 field germination experiments of dormant seeds were carried out in the forest nursery of Langadas, Central Macedonia, Greece. Seeds of fifteen indigenous forest species were sown without any treatment in order to determine their germination (emergence). Laboratory germination and/or viability tests were carried out at the same time for the same species according to current international standards. Seeds of Malus sylvestris Mill. germinated 96%, Fraxinus ornus L. 88%, Celtis australis L. and Cornus sanguinea L. 79%, and Euonymus europaeus L. 67%. In contrast, seeds of Laurus nobilis L. germinated only 11%, Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz 1%, and Prunus spinosa L. 0%. Seeds with hard seed coat or with double dormancy (hard seed coat and embryo dormancy) had low percentages of germination or did not germinate at all. Seeds of Paliurus aculeatus Lamb. germinated 28%, Cercis siliquastrum L. 21%, Cotinus coggygria Scop. 19%, Pistacia terebinthus L. 17%, and Carpinus betulus L. 9%. Emergence of Cornus sanguinea L. and Malus sylvestris Mill. began in late March while for the rest of the species in the first half of April. Except for seeds of Rhus coriaria L. and Phillyrea latifolia L. which did not emerge at all, emergence for all species was completed in late April and early May.