Abstract

MASINI, A. C. A.; ROVERE, A. E.  and  PEREZ, D. R.. Pre-germination requirements of two woody species: Anarthrophyllum capitatum Sorarú and Anarthrophyllum elegans (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) F. Philippi. Quebracho (Santiago del Estero) [online]. 2012, vol.20, n.2, pp.85-96. ISSN 1851-3026.

Protected natural areas, like the rest of Neuquén province, have been affected by desertification processes provoked by various anthropic activities. One way to mitigate this problemand recover the vascular plant community is the application of restoration or rehabilitation techniques, which include the reintroduction of native plants. However, there is a lack of information about the germination requirements of many species, which is necessary if we are to produce them from seed. Anarthrophyllum capitatum Sorarú and Anarthrophyllum elegans (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) F. Philippi (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae), are woody species present in AucaMahuida multipurpose Provincial Reserve (Neuquén). Anarthrophyllum capitatum is endemic to Neuquén province and A. elegans is endemic to Argentina and Chile. The aims of this work were to characterise the seeds and evaluate the pre-germination requirements of A. capitatum and A. elegans. Four treatments were tested (control; cold, moist stratification for 30 days; chemical-scarification with sulphuric acid for 5 and 45 minutes). The results show that scarification treatments are necessary for seed germination of A. capitatum (control: 1% and chemical scarification for 45 minutes: 71%), whereas over 60% of A. elegans seeds germinated under control conditions. Nevertheless, scarification treatment is recommended for both species, since higher percentages of germination can be achieved in a shorter time, which is an advantage for optimisation of the growing season.

Keywords : Chemical scarification; Fabaceae; Restoration/rehabilitation.

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