Effects of smoke water and karrikin on seed germination of 13 species growing in China

Abstract

Plant-derived smoke water (SW), derived from combusted plant material, has been shown to stimulate seed germination and improve seedling vigor of a number of plant species from fire-dependent Mediterranean-type climate areas. The effects of SW on seed germination of 13 plant species from southern tropical and subtropical monsoon climate regions of South China are reported for the first time in this study using laboratory and pot trials. Among the 13 species tested, only Aristolochia debilis showed a significant positive response to commercial SW when diluted 1:10. Seed germination of A. debilis was also stimulated by 1-100 nM 3-methyl-2H-furo [2, 3-c] pyran-2-one (karrikin 1 or KAR1) and by 10-1000 μM gibberellic acid (GA3). GA3 stimulated seed germination of Santalum album and significantly elongated the radicles of A. debilis while SW could not. The functions and/or metabolic pathways of Kar1 and GA3 are likely to be separate and/or distinct. © 2014 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.