Seed bank of Littorella uniflora (L.) Asch. in the Czech Republic, Central Europe: does burial depth and sediment type influence seed germination?

0475698 - BÚ 2018 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Kolář, J. - Kučerová, Andrea - Jakubec, J. - Vymazal, J.
Seed bank of Littorella uniflora (L.) Asch. in the Czech Republic, Central Europe: does burial depth and sediment type influence seed germination?
Hydrobiologia. Roč. 794, č. 1 (2017), s. 347-358. ISSN 0018-8158. E-ISSN 1573-5117
Grant - others:EHP, MF ČR, MŽP ČR(CZ) MGSII-11
Program: CZ02
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : Isoetids * Fishpond eutrophication * Summer drainage
OECD category: Plant sciences, botany
Impact factor: 2.165, year: 2017

Littorella uniflora (Plantaginaceae) is a scarce and declining aquatic plant in Europe. Its population has been strongly reduced by changes in fishpond management (eutrophication) in the Czech Republic since the 1950s. The seed bank od Littorella uniflora was studied in both recent (n = 8) and historical localities (the last found from 1972 to 2000, n = 10). The effects of sediment type and burial depth on seed germination were tested using extracted seeds from two recent populations. The seeds were found in 60% of the historical localities, mostly in low densities (less than 6 seeds per 3.75 l of sediment), and also in 100% of the recent localities in various densities (8–1390 seeds per 3.75 l of sediment), however, low germination rates (0–13.3%) were estimated. The seeds germinated best on wet filter paper, followed by nutrient-rich fishpond sediment, but poorly on sand mixed with different substrates. Burial depth significantly affected seed germination. The seeds germinated only on the soil surface and at the depth of 1 cm but no seed germinated at the depth of 3 and 5 cm. Besides low water transparency, both high rate of sediment accumulation and the absence of summer drainage may endanger L. uniflora populations in fishponds.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0273479