Effects of temperature and light on Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) and Texas sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) seed germination Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Experiments were performed to assess germination requirements of seeds of Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.) and Texas sugarberry (Celtis laevigata Willd.). Sapium and Celtis seeds were exposed to different combinations of light and temperature. It was predicted that Sapium would germinate under a variety of environmental conditions, but Sapium seeds germinated predominantly in fluctuating temperature conditions. Celtis seeds also germinated readily in such conditions but had less restrictive germination requirements. Since Celtis appears to be better adapted to a variety of germination conditions, a broader range of environmental germination tolerances does not explain Sapium's greater establishment success as an alien invader. Nevertheless, seeds requiring oscillating temperatures to germinate are most commonly found in canopy gaps or open areas suggesting that Sapium invasions may be especially problematic in disturbed habitats.

published proceedings

  • Texas Journal of Science

author list (cited authors)

  • Nijjer, S., Lankau, R. A., Rogers, W. E., & Siemann, E.

complete list of authors

  • Nijjer, S||Lankau, RA||Rogers, WE||Siemann, E

publication date

  • January 2002