Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2018, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (10): 910-916.doi: 10.11934/j.issn.1673-4831.2018.10.007

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Study on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Houpo a officinalis in Different Habitats

TAN Mei1, YANG Zhi-ling1, YANG Xu1, CHENG Xiao-yan1, LI Gong-rong2, MA Wen-ming2   

  1. 1. Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry/Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 311400, China;
    2. Yuantang Forest Farm of Panan County in Zhejiang Province, Panan 322300, China
  • Received:2017-11-02 Online:2018-10-25 Published:2018-10-25

Abstract:

In order to explore the mechanism of seed emergence and the factors affecting seedling regeneration of Houpoöa officinalis, three different habitats (coniferous forest, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest and broad-leaved forest) were selected in Guiyang Forest Farm in Suichang County. Cross-treatments of the seed coat (removing or preserving the aril) and the wire mesh (cover or not cover) were taken to reveal seed germination and seedling growth characteristics of H. officinalis in different habitats. The results show that:The seed germination rates of H. officinalis were significantly different (P<0.05) in different habitats, and the rates of those under different treatments were significantly different too. The seed germination rate of H. officinalis under prosthetic removal and wire mesh cover in coniferous forest was the highest one; furthermore, no matter with or without wire mesh, the germination rates of H. officinalis under preserving of aril turned out to equal 0; The mortality rate of H. officinalis in the early stage of seedling (4-8 weeks) was the highest one, and it would remain stable with the age growing. In coniferous forest, the retention rate of seedling turned out to be the highest one, but there was no significant difference in retention rate between the different habitats. Differences of habitats can make significant effects (P<0.05) on seedling height and basal stem diameter of H. officinalis. Superiority of seedling height and ground diameter of H. officinalis in coniferous forest was better than those in coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest,and superiority of H. officinalis in coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest was better than those in broad-leaved forest; Correlation analysis showed that factors such as air temperature, humidity, light intensity and litter thickness had a significant effect on the germination of H. officinalis seeds. For seedling growth, the important factors were air temperature, light intensity, soil moisture and nutrients. The study revealed that the coniferous forest is the most suitable for the seed germination and seedling growth of H. officinalis, and the aril, animal feeding and habitat heterogeneity are the main reasons leading to the low germination rate and the high mortality of H. officinalis seeds.

Key words: Houpoea officinalis, habitats, seed germination, seedling growth, impact factor

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