Germination response of seven east Australian Grevillea species (Proteaceae) to smoke, heat exposure and scarification

Abstract

Seeds of plant species from fire-prone vegetation often show dormancy, and germinate in response to fire-related cues. Seeds of some east Australian Grevillea species were known from earlier studies to germinate in response to fires, but gave mixed results when heat shock was tested as a germination stimulus. In the current study, seeds of seven east Australian Grevillea species were tested for their germination response to smoke, to short heat exposure, and to scarification. Seeds were smoked in a chamber by using a mixture of native woodland vegetation as fuel. The smoking and heating treatments were administered to seeds in bulk: this meant that subsequent germination data for these two treatments were not independent. Cumulative germination in the laboratory was scored for up to 60 days. All three germination treatments, when administered singly, increased germination: smoke increased germination in all seven species, heat in four species, and scarification in a different four species. Pairwise combinations of the three treatments also increased germination in some species e.g. smoke and heat treatments combined led to the highest germination observed in four species, and to increased germination compared with either treatment singly, in another species. Some treatment combinations appeared to interact: heat and scarification combined led to decreased germination in three species. The role of heat exposure and scarification in increasing germination was not due to the breaking of an impermeable seed coat: water uptake of both scarified and unscarified seeds was rapid and equal (after 24 h) in all seven species. The results indicate that seeds of the Grevillea species investigated are responsive to one or more fire-related germination cues.