ArticleAnnals of botany2020
Variation in seed traits among Mediterranean oaks in Tunisia and their ecological significance.
Article in Annals of botany, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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4 citing papers in PubMed, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Climate drives patterns of response of recalcitrant embryonic axes ofPlant diversity · 2026Article
- Polyphenolic Profile, Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Antidiabetic Activities of Acorns from Three TunisianPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Germination temperature sensitivity differs between co-occurring tree species and climate origins resulting in contrasting vulnerability to global warming.Plant-environment interactions (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2023Article
- Interspecific Variation between the AmericanMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
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8 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsOaks are the foundation and dominant tree species of most Mediterranean forests. As climate models predict dramatic changes in the Mediterranean basin, a better understanding of the ecophysiology of seed persistence and germination in oaks could help define their regeneration niches. Tunisian oaks occupy distinct geographical areas, which differ in their rainfall and temperature regimes, and are thus a valuable model to investigate relationships between seed traits and species ecological requirements.
methodsSeed morphological traits, desiccation sensitivity level, lethal freezing temperature, embryonic axis and cotyledon sugar and lipid composition, and seed and acorn germination rates at various constant temperatures were measured in Quercus canariensis, Q. coccifera, Q. ilex and Q. suber, using seeds sampled in 22 Tunisian woodlands. KEY
resultsOnly faint differences were observed for desiccation sensitivity in the oak species studied. By contrast, the species differed significantly in sensitivity to freezing, germination rates at low temperature and base temperature. Quercus ilex and Q. canariensis, which occur at high elevations where frost events are frequent, showed the lowest freezing sensitivity. A significant correlation was found between hexose contents in the embryonic axis and freezing tolerance. Significant interspecific differences in the time for seeds to germinate and the time for the radicle to pierce the pericarp were observed. The ratio of pericarp mass to acorn mass differed significantly among the species and was negatively correlated with the acorn germination rate. Quercus coccifera, which is frequent in warm and arid environments, showed the highest acorn germination rate and synchrony.
conclusionsSeed lethal temperature, seed germination time at low temperatures, the ratio of pericarp mass to acorn mass and the embryonic axis hexose content appeared to be key functional traits that may influence the geographical ranges and ecological requirements of Mediterranean oaks in Tunisia.
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