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Large-seeded spices are less dependent on light for germination than small-seeded ones

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

P. Milberg ,
L. Andersson  and
K. Thompson
P. Milberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology-IFM, Linkõping University, 581 83 Linkõping, Sweden
L. Andersson
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Crop Production science, SLU, Box 7043, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
K. Thompson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
*
*Fax: +46 13 28 26 11 Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Germination in light and darkness was compared after cold stratification of seeds of 54 species known or suspected to accumulate persistent seed banks. Germination became less dependent on light with increasing seed mass. This pattern was clear in a direct correlation of individual species data (P <0.0001) as well as when considering phylogenetically independent contrasts (P <0.001). The latter analysis suggests that light response and seed mass coevolved.

Keywords

evolutiongerminationlightphylogenetic correctionseed sizestratificationSweden
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , March 2000 , pp. 99 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

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