Morphology, dormancy and pre-germination treatments for three native forest species in southern Ecuador

Abstract

The high Andean forests have high rates of biodiversity, however, currently the loss of native forest is alarming, especially in countries where deforestation is increasing. However, generating restoration plans entails the production of plants, which must be propagated through seed, but the limited information about acquiescence, dormancy and germination techniques in native species is a barrier. We hypothesized that dormancy and acquiescence can be break through the application of chemical or physical techniques, and is specific to each species. The seeds of the species Podocarpus sprucei, Clusia sp. and Viburnum triphyllum were collected within the Irquis- Yanuncay Protective Forest in Azuay, Ecuador. Morphological descriptions, imbibition and viability tests, pre-germinative treatments of scarification (GA₃ and H₂SO₄) and stratification (hot) were applied. After analyzing the tests carried out, it was determined that Clusia sp. does not present acquiescence or dormancy, while P. sprucei presents endogenous acquiescence and morphological dormancy, meanwhile, V. triphyllum presents exogenous/endogenous dormancy and morphophysiological dormancy. Furthermore, the best pre- germinative treatment to stimulate germination in P. sprucei (62%) and V. triphyllum (80%) was acid scarification of H₂SO₄; likewise, hot stratification at 30°C applied in Clusia sp. generated greater germination (89%) and at 40°C (82%) in V. triphyllum. This information allowed us to understand and complement information on morphology, acquiescence, dormancy, and pre-germination treatments of these native species and in the future, promote their use in restoration projects.