Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1920. / "Private edition, distributed by the University of Chicago libraries, Chicago, Illinois, 1921." "Reprinted from the Botanical gazette, vol. LXXII, no. 1, July, 1921." "Literature cited": p. 29-30. Also available on the Internet.

Dormancy in many aquatic angiosperms is characterized by the production of turions, specialized vegetative buds which function as both propagules and perennating organs. In temperate climate species, induction of dormancy is usually associated with short days, often in conjunction with low temperatures. By contrast, the turions of Potamogeton crispus are formed around midsummer and the species grows luxuriantly throughout the winter. The environmental factors controlling turion formation in Potamogeton crispus were investigated under natural and laboratory conditions. Potamogeton obtusifolius, a typical temperate climate species exhibiting autumnal turion production, was studied for comparative purposes. Phenological development of natural populations in two Scottish lakes was compared with seasonal measurements of temperature, daylength, underwater light attenuation and light quality (the red and far red wavelength bands). Temperature and photoperiod were identified as the primary environmental factors regulating turion formation in both species. Laboratory experiments confirmed the field observation that turions are produced by Potamogeton crispus in response to long days (greater than 12 to 16h) and high temperatures (greater than 16°C). In Potamogeton obtusifolius, turion production is associated with short days and high temperatures. Because of the complexity of the underwater light climate, the effect of light quantity (irradiance) and light quality on turion production could not be determined. Laboratory experiments showed that under inductive photoperiodic and temperature conditions, low red:far red ratios and low irradiance inhibited turion formation in Potamogeton crispus. The action of phytochrome in the perception of the long day photoperiodic signal and the quantitative effect of sucrose concentration on the magnitude of turion production in Potamogeton crispus was investigated. A model of phytochrome action in the control of photoperiodic and photomorphogenetic responses in aquatic angiosperms is presented and the role of turions in the life history of Potamogeton crispus and Potamogeton obtusifolius is assessed.

FERREIRA, Wanessa Nepomuceno. Ecofisiologia da germinação e do crescimento inicial de Piptadenia stipulacea (Benth.) Ducke E Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan. 2011. 65 f. Dissertação (mestrado em ecologia e recursos naturais)- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza-CE, 2011. / Submitted by Elineudson Ribeiro (elineudsonr@gmail.com) on 2016-04-01T17:46:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_dis_wnferreira.pdf: 831616 bytes, checksum: 19943a2479ff10b8024d26c2b5eedbdb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by José Jairo Viana de Sousa (jairo@ufc.br) on 2016-05-19T20:41:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_dis_wnferreira.pdf: 831616 bytes, checksum: 19943a2479ff10b8024d26c2b5eedbdb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-19T20:41:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_dis_wnferreira.pdf: 831616 bytes, checksum: 19943a2479ff10b8024d26c2b5eedbdb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / This study presents the hypothesis that P. stipulacea is a species characteristic of early stages of succession, while A. colubrina in later stages. To characterize the two species studied are some attributes used in classification of ecological groups of tropical rainforests, answering the following questions: a) species have seed dormancy? b) what conditions of temperature and light for germination? c) the seeds are desiccation tolerance? d) the characteristics of seedling growth under different levels of irradiance? Thus, the work made the following predictions: a) seeds of P. stipulacea present dormancy, while those of A. colubrina not present; b) seeds of P. stipulacea germinate over a wide temperature range, while those of A. colubrina germinate in a narrow temperature range; c) the seeds of P. stipulacea tolerate low levels of desiccation, while those of A. colubrina not tolerate; d) seedlings of P. stipulacea grow best at higher irradiance levels, while those of A. colubrina grow best at lower levels of irradiance. Fruits were collected in the caatinga area located on the farm "Não Me Deixes” city of Quixada-CE, and the experiments were performed at the Seed Analysis Laboratory and the Core Teaching and Research in Urban Agriculture. Results of preliminary testing of germination showed that seeds of P. stipulacea present dormancy and are better solved with chemical scarification for 10 minutes. The seeds of A. colubrina have no dormancy. The experiment temperature and light was revealed that the two species have the same range of germination (10°C to 40ºC), with best germination at 30°C, but at lower temperatures P. stipulacea showed germination very low. As for tolerance to desiccation, seeds of P. stipulacea bore drying up 5.16% moisture without influencing germination, representing orthodox behavior. Already A. colubrina germination decreased as the seeds lost water, but even with a water content of 5.81%, germination remained above 80%, indicating that this species also has orthodox seeds. In the irradiance experiment, seedlings of P. stipulacea showed larger diameter in full sun, and all treatments accumulated more biomass to the stem. A. colubrina showed greater height and diameter in 50% shade and a larger number of leaves and shoot biomass by 70% shade, indicating that this species tolerates intermediate levels of shade. It is suggested that features used for classification of ecological groups of tropical forests could also be used to support the identification of which stage of succession belongs to certain species of caatinga, with the aim of understanding their occurrence, distribution and development, for better conservation and use suitable for the reforestation of degraded areas. / Este estudo apresenta a hipótese de que P. stipulacea é uma espécie característica de estágio inicial de sucessão, enquanto A. colubrina de estágios mais avançados. Para caracterizar as duas espécies, estudaram-se alguns atributos utilizados na classificação de grupos ecológicos de florestas tropicais úmidas, respondendo as seguintes questões: a) as espécies apresentam dormência de sementes? b) quais as condições de temperatura e luz para germinação? c) as sementes apresentam tolerância à dessecação? d) quais as características de crescimento das plântulas sob diferentes graus de irradiância? Dessa forma, o trabalho apresentou as seguintes previsões: a) as sementes de P. stipulacea apresentam dormência, enquanto as de A. colubrina não apresentam; b) as sementes de P. stipulacea germinam em uma ampla faixa de temperatura, enquanto as de A. colubrina germinam em uma faixa de temperatura mais estreita; c) as sementes de P. stipulacea toleram baixos níveis de dessecação, enquanto as de A. colubrina não toleram; d) as plântulas de P. stipulacea crescem melhor em maiores níveis de irradiância, enquanto as de A. colubrina crescem melhor em menores níveis de irradiância. Os frutos foram coletados em área de caatinga situada na fazenda “Não Me Deixes”, no município de Quixadá-CE, e os experimentos foram realizados no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes e no Núcleo de Ensino e Pesquisa em Agricultura Urbana. Resultados do teste preliminar de germinação mostraram que sementes de P. stipulacea apresentam dormência, sendo melhor superada com escarificação química por 10 minutos. Já as sementes de A. colubrina não possuem dormência. O experimento de temperatura e luz revelou que as duas espécies apresentam a mesma amplitude de germinação (10ºC a 40ºC), com melhor germinação a 30ºC, porém, nas menores temperaturas P. stipulacea apresentou germinação muito baixa. Quanto à tolerância a dessecação, as sementes de P. stipulacea suportaram secagem até 5,16% de umidade sem influenciar a germinação, representando comportamento ortodoxo. Já com A. colubrina a germinação diminuiu à medida que as sementes perderam água, porém, mesmo com teor de água de 5,81%, a germinação permaneceu acima de 80%, indicando que esta espécie também apresenta sementes ortodoxas. No experimento de irradiância, plântulas de P. stipulacea apresentaram maior diâmetro a pleno sol e, em todos os tratamentos, acumularam maior biomassa para o caule. A. colubrina apresentou maior altura e diâmetro em 50% de sombra e maior número de folhas e biomassa da parte aérea em 70% de sombra, indicando que esta espécie tolera níveis intermediários de sombra. Sugere-se que características utilizadas na classificação de grupos ecológicos de florestas tropicais úmidas também possam ser utilizadas para subsidiar a identificação de qual estágio sucessional pertencem determinadas espécies da caatinga, com o objetivo de entender sua ocorrência, distribuição e desenvolvimento, para melhor conservação e uso adequado no reflorestamento de áreas degradadas.

Two dormancy induction trials were conducted in a private container nursery in Saanichton, British Columbia. The first study examined the effects of photoperiod induced dormancy on morphology, root growth and field performance of fall planted western hemlock (Tsuga heterophyl_1ji (Raf.)Sarg.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menzi_esv[ (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings. Various periods of eight hour days, ranging from two to eight weeks, were applied throughout July and August 1983. Outplanting was done in late September. Survival and growth were assessed one year later. The second project investigated the effectiveness of short days, varying levels of moisture stress and a combination of both as dormancy induction techniques for Douglas-fir seedlings. The short day treatment was four weeks of eight hour days. Four levels of predawn moisture stress were: -5, -10, -15 and -25 bars. These classes respectively corresponded to control, light, medium and severe moisture stress levels. Short days and moisture stress were also combined whereby the four week period of short days followed the moisture stress treatments. These induction treatments were applied in July and August 1984. All seedlings were lifted in January 1985 and placed into cold storage for five weeks until March 1985. Morphology, root growth capacity, frost hardiness and dormancy intensity were assessed in January. Root growth capacity and dormancy intensity were again measured in March. In Study I, short days quickly initiated homogeneous budset in both species in approximately three weeks. The average height increment after treatment initiation was 3.7 cm in Douglas-fir and 4.2 cm in western hemlock. Short days reduced shoot dry weight and height. Caliper and root dry weight were unaffected. In September a surge in root growth occurred in hemlock seedlings treated with six or eight weeks of short days. The importance of early budset to allow increased root growth prior to a fall lift was demonstrated. Root growth capacity was similar among all treatments for both species. The planting survival of western hemlock seedlings increased with increasing weeks of short days. Control plants had 76% survival while the eight week regime had 91%. Survival was similar for all treated Douglas-fir seedlings. It ranged from 89% in the two week interval to 98% in the four week regime. One year height increment was significantly greater in the six and eight week short day treatments for both species. For hemlock, it ranged from 6.1 cm in the control plants to 10.4 cm in the six week trees. Douglas-fir height increment ranged from 6.4 cm for the control interval to 8.6 cm in the eight week regime. The six and eight week photoregimes produced the best quality hemlock seedlings for this study. Four weeks of short days appeared adequate for Douglas-fir. In Study II short days effectively initiated and maintained budset in Douglas-fir seedlings in four weeks. After six weeks from treatment initiation, a light to severe moisture stress was as effective in controlling height growth. A natural photoperiod with no moisture stress was least effective. In a comparison of all treatment combinations, only the control plants under a natural photoperiod were significantly larger in all morphological properties. Short days, moisture stress or a combination of both had similar effects on reducing height, caliper, shoot dry weight and root dry weight. Unstressed seedlings in a natural daylength had the highest value of root growth capacity. All other treatment combinations had significantly lower root growth capacity. Only the severe stress under a natural photoperiod significantly reduced root growth capacity compared to any other treatment. Short days accelerated bud burst in the January and March dormancy intensity tests. Frost hardiness was similar among all treatments. Selection of a regime which controlled height growth while maintaining seedling quality was not clearcut. A short photoperiod with no moisture stress was most effective in initiating budset. However, few morphological and physiological differences were evident between short day plants and light and medium stressed seedlings. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

The biology of seed dormancy and germination of 46 species representing 11 of the 12 tribes in Convolvulaceae were compared in laboratory (mostly), field and greenhouse experiments. Seeds were tested for kind of dormancy and storage behavior; artificial or simulated natural treatments were applied to break physical dormancy (PY); the initial route of water entry (“water gap”) into seeds was identified; the morphoanatomy of the water gap was compared in seeds of 17 species; ontogenetical differences between water gap and seed coat away from the hilum were described in Ipomoea lacunosa seeds; cycling of sensitivity to dormancy break was elucidated in seeds of I. lacunosa, I. hederacea, Cuscuta australis and Jaquemontia ovalifolia; and mechanism of opening of the water gap was determined for seeds of I. lacunosa and of I hederacea. Seeds of only three of the 46 species were nondormant. Two of these were recalcitrant (Maripa panamensis and Erycibe henryi), and the other one was orthodox (Bonamia menziesii). Seeds of the other 43 species were orthodox and had PY except those of Cuscuta europea, which also had physiological dormancy (PD) i.e. combinational dormancy (PY + PD). Two bulges adjacent to the micropyle were identified as the water gap in all seeds with PY except those of Cuscuta, in which the hilar fissure is the water gap. Anatomy of the bulges (water gap) adjacent to the micropyle differs from that of seed coat away from the bulges. A different sequence and phase of anticlinal and periclinal cell divisions during development created weak transitional zones between bulge - hilum and bulge - seed coat away from hilum. Water vapor pressure changes below the bulges caused formation of the opening(s) in water gap. Seeds of I. lacunosa I. hederacea, C. australis and J. ovalifolia cycle between sensitive and insensitive states to dormancy break, but not between PY and nondormancy. Seed dormancy and storage characteristics and anatomy and morphology of dormancy of seeds of Convolvulaceae closely follow the molecular phylogeny of the family. I suggest that PY in seeds of subfamily Convolvuloideae evolved from nondormant recalcitrant seeds of an ancestor closely related to Erycibeae.

Some bacterial taxa when stimulated by water additions will break dormancy, grow, and become dominant members of the community and contribute significant pulses of CO2 associated with the rewetting event. These pulses of activity are associated with high levels of bacterial productivity in soils. (Aanderud et al. 2011) We examined the bacterial taxa that resuscitate and become metabolically active following two forms of water stress (soil drying-rewetting and freeze-thaw cycles) and we captured and measured the CO2 emanating from those soils. Specifically, We used target metagenomics, which uses a specific gene pool within bacteria that is associated with a function of an ecological process, in this case active (16S rRNA communities) bacteria and all bacteria (16S rRNA communities) during drying-rewetting and freeze-thaw cycles. We measured an array of community dynamics (i.e., evenness, richness, diversity, relative abundance of taxa, and network analyses between taxa) as dry soils are rewetted and as frozen soils thaw multiple times in three cold desert soils. Soils from all three locations exhibited some similar bacterial taxa and gene function but were large in part their own community derived from the evolutionary history of the continent in which they reside.

True potato (Solanum tuberosum) seed (TPS) is used for preservation of variable genetic lines of wild and cultivated potatoes (Hawkes et al., 2000) and for propagation of food crops in some developing countries. TPS has advantages over seed potato tubers in storage and transportation and favors lower virus infection levels in fields. However, TPS has thermodormancy and will not readily germinate at 25°C and above (D'Antonio and McHale, 1988; Pallais, 1995a, b; Alvarado et al., 2000). TPS can be extremely unreliable when planted directly in fields due to poor emergence related to diseases and soil crusting. Germination tests were conducted with two lots of TPS derived from cvs. EB-8109 and All Blue, respectively, to study dormancy mechanisms. Seeds were germinated under four temperature regimes (10°C, 15°C, 20°C and 25°C). The two lots showed distinctly different germination characteristics. EB-8109 seeds showed only thermodormancy whereas All Blue seeds showed very deep dormancy. A carotenoid synthesis inhibitor, fluridone, which blocks abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis, effectively broke thermodormancy in EB-8109 TPS but did not break primary dormancy in All Blue seeds. Additional treatments, including pre-chilling and hormonal regimes, also failed to break All Blue deep dormancy. When the micropylar region of the endosperm (endosperm cap) was removed from seeds of both seed lots, radicle elongation was observed, suggesting that mechanical resistance from the endosperm cap restrains radicle protrusion, and that weakening of the endosperm cap is requisite for TPS germination. Endo-β-mannanase expression was measured to help characterize mechanism underlying the weakening of endosperm cap tissues. This enzyme is thought to permit radicle protrusion by degrading cell walls thereby weakening the tissues of the endosperm cap (Groot et al., 1988). The coding region of germination-specific mannanase was isolated from the potato genome by use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers specifically designed for the tomato germination-specific mannanase gene (LeMAN2, Nonogaki et al., 2000). The cDNA of the TPS mannanase was identical to that of LeMAN2. The expression of mannanase mRNA was detected in the endosperm cap of germinating TPS after 72 h of imbibition at 15°C, while no expression was detected at 25°C (thermodormant condition). Fluridone induced mannanase expression in the micropylar region of the endospem at 25°C. Thus, there was a correlation between induction of mannanase and dormancy breakage. A major increase in TPS post-germinative endo-β-mannanase activity was detected by use of gel diffusion assay. Two isoforms of mannanases were detected in the protein extracts of germinated TPS by activity staining of native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The post-germinative mannanase was detected in the whole endosperm of germinated TPS by using tissue printing with the LeMAN1 (Bewley et al., 1997) RNA probe. These results suggest that, as with tomato, TPS also expresses post-germinative mannanase activity. The promoter region of a new tomato mannanase was isolated during this research. This promoter was shown to be involved in anther-specific expression of mannanase. / Graduation date: 2003

Thesis (PhD(Agric) (Horticulture))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Lack of winter chilling is a major problem in producing temperate-zone fruit in warm climates. Delayed foliation and protracted bud burst and flowering are the main problems necessitating artificial means to break dormancy. In South Africa (SA), most apple production areas receive insufficient winter chilling, and an annual application of rest breaking (RB) agents is included as standard practice. The most used RB agent in SA was dinitro-o-cresol (DNOC) but its use was discontinued. Hydrogen cyanamide (HC) became the replacement. It has been effective in apple, but variable effects on fruit set, blossom, yield and fruit quality have been reported. Thidiazuron (TDZ) has also shown the ability to break dormancy in apples. Another important practice in apple production is chemical thinning (CT). However, results are highly influenced by the type of chemical, weather conditions, cultivar and blossom pattern. With the increasing efficacy of RB and by identifying its effects on vegetative and reproductive development, it will be possible to determine more effective chemical thinning treatments. The objective of this study was to determine appropriate RB treatments for apple trees in a warm winter climate, identifying their effect on vegetative and reproductive development and the influence on CT efficacy. The research was performed in the Elgin area (34°S, 300 m) SA, over a period of three years, on ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Royal Gala’. In evaluating the effect of different HC concentrations and oil, no synergistic or antagonistic effects were observed on budburst and yield. Mineral oil at 4% plus 1 to 2% Dormex® combined were sufficient to break dormancy. Dormex® at 4% (2.08% HC) reduced fruit set and yield. In general, the rest breaking treatments (DNOC, HC and TDZ) enhanced the final vegetative bud burst compared to the control, while reproductive bud burst in 2002 and 2003 was not significantly influenced. The treatments compressed and advanced flowering periods, but this effect was not always evident when the spring was warm. The treatments synchronised flowering on the tree and between the two cultivars. The mixture of 0.245% HC and 4% oil was less effective in terms of increasing bud burst in ‘Royal Gala’ compared to other rest-breaking treatments. The mixture of 0.49% HC and 4% oil effectively compressed and synchronised flowering in ‘Golden Delicious’. TDZ-oil used at the lower rates also increased bud burst and concentrated flowering. However, it appears that after a cooler winter, higher rates could result in an exacerbated bud burst effect with excessive vegetative growth. The rate and timing of TDZ-oil application influenced the reproductive development of apples and therefore fruit quality. In ‘Golden Delicious’ increased fruit set, number of seeds, and reduced fruit russeting appear as beneficial results of TDZ-oil, whereas fruit set and russeting was not affected in ‘Granny Smith’. TDZ-oil, when applied late and at increasing rates, led to an increase in the malformation of calyx cavities, especially when chemical thinning was performed using the cytokinin-like compound benzyladenine. The effect seemed to be cultivar specific, with ‘Golden Delicious’ being the most severely affected. Increased return bloom in response to late TDZ application in ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Royal Gala’ appeared to be beneficial.

No description available.

Common gromwell (Lithospermum officinale) acts as a host plant for the monophagous moth Ethmia dodecea  whose larvae are completely dependent on the leaves. As conservation authorities now want to reinstate the regionally extinct moth to Mälardalen, a stable population of its host plant is a requirement. To facilitate the work of strengthening the presence of gromwell a partnership was therefore initiated between Västmanland County Board and Uppsala University. In this cooperation, I performed two studies. In the first one I examined how water and temperature affect plant germination and how nutrient levels affect early growth. In the second study I investigated whether the germination is influenced by chemical treatment (soaking in acid) and mechanical damage (seeds scratched with sandpaper) on the seeds. I worked with the hypothesis that gromwell is grazed by cows and is therefore dispersed and germinates in the spring. This should mean high water levels combined with high temperatures would produce higher germination. For the second study, it means that the germination rate should be higher in the seeds treated with the acid than in the scratched and control treatments. In the first study, so few seeds germinated that I could not draw any conclusions, but germinations appear to go faster in the combination with high nutrients high temperature and frequent watering. In the second study, the seeds scraped with sandpaper had the highest germination rate. This indicates that gromwell may be dispersed by birds, and I propose sandpaper rubbing as a method to easily increase the germination rates of L. officinale in greenhouses in order to reinforce small populations in the field.