Effect of fungi and light on seed germination of three Opuntia species from semiarid lands of central Mexico
Fungal attack under light reduces mechanical resistance of the testa of Opuntia seeds, making it easier for the embryo to emerge. However, the effect of fungi on Opuntia seed germination in darkness is unknown. We evaluated the combined effects of light and inoculation with Phoma medicaginis , Trich...
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Published in | Journal of plant research Vol. 126; no. 5; pp. 643 - 649 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Tokyo
Springer Japan
01.09.2013
Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Fungal attack under light reduces mechanical resistance of the testa of
Opuntia
seeds, making it easier for the embryo to emerge. However, the effect of fungi on
Opuntia
seed germination in darkness is unknown. We evaluated the combined effects of light and inoculation with
Phoma medicaginis
,
Trichoderma harzianum
,
Trichoderma koningii
, and
Penicillium chrysogenum
on germination of
O. streptacantha
,
O. leucotricha
, and
O. robusta
seeds, from central Mexico. We also evaluated the combined effects of seed age (2-, 3-, and 12-year-old seeds) and presence of fungi on the testa on
O. streptacantha
germination. All fungal species eroded the funicular envelope and promoted seed germination for
O. leucotricha
and
O. streptacantha
, but did more so in light than in darkness. For the latter species, younger seeds inoculated with fungi had lower germination than older ones. For
O. robusta
, we found that seeds inoculated with
P. medicaginis
and
T. harzianum
had similar germination in light and in darkness. Our results strongly indicate that deterioration of the testa by fungi is higher in light than in darkness. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0918-9440 1618-0860 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s10265-013-0558-2 |