Germination of two warm-temperate oaks, Quercus emoryi and Quercus arizonica

Quercus emoryi Torr. (emory oak) and Quercus arizonica Sarg. (Arizona white oak) are the dominant trees in many of the oak savannas and woodlands of Arizona and northern Mexico. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate germination on two media as influenced by storage and stratification and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCanadian journal of forest research Vol. 22; no. 9; pp. 1395 - 1401
Main Authors Nyandiga, C.O, McPherson, G.R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 1992
Subjects
acorns
buried seeds
canopy
depth
filter paper
mineral soils
Quercus
seed germination
storage
stratification
temperature
viability
water content
Arizona
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Summary:Quercus emoryi Torr. (emory oak) and Quercus arizonica Sarg. (Arizona white oak) are the dominant trees in many of the oak savannas and woodlands of Arizona and northern Mexico. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate germination on two media as influenced by storage and stratification and (ii) to determine the effects of oak canopy and depth of burial on acorn viability and germination. Germination was higher (P < 0.05) on filter paper than in mineral soil in laboratory trials. Maximum germination of Q. emoryi in the field was observed at a depth of 7.5 cm (29%), with only 5% germination at the soil surface. Germination of Q. arizonica al 7.5 and 15 cm (73%) was not different (P > 0. 10) but exceeded germination at the surface (17%). These results represent the first reported germination of either species and indicate that recruitment into mature oak woodlands is not limited by germination.
ISSN:0045-5067
1208-6037
DOI:10.1139/x92-185