DOCSLIB.ORG

Some Comments on the Origin and Evolution of Conifers

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Some Comments on the Origin and Evolution of Conifers See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284504789 Some comments on the origin and evolution of conifers Article in Canadian Journal of Botany · October 1981 Impact Factor: 1.4 · DOI: 10.1139/b81-254 CITATIONS READS 15 16 1 author: R. A Stockey Oregon State University 174 PUBLICATIONS 3,409 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, Available from: R. A Stockey letting you access and read them immediately. Retrieved on: 09 July 2016 Some comments on the origin and evolution of conifers1 RUTHA. STOCKEY Department of Botany, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G 2E9 Received December 16, 1980 STOCKEY,R. A. 1981. Some comments on the origin and evolution of conifers. Can. J. Bot. 59: 1932-1940. During the last several years there has been an increased emphasis on the study of conifer evolution including various aspects of their reproductive biology. The occurrence of similar stelar features as well as trends in the evolution of reproductive structures still point to cordaitalean affinities for the Coniferales. The evolutionary history of such families as the Pinaceae, Araucariaceae, and Taxodiaceae is beginning to be elucidated as well as that of certain extinct families including the Cheirolepidaceae and the Voltziaceae. Systematic investigations of fossil cone vasculature and resin canal distribution, leaf cuticles, seed integuments, and embryo structure not only have increased our knowledge of conifer evolution but also have led to changes in our views on the systematics of extant conifer groups. Introduction Beck (1970, 1971, 1975) and others (Scheckler 1978; In the last few years there has been an increased Scheckler and Banks 1971) have noted that characters emphasis on the study of conifer evolution. Since the common in conifer xylem are present in the Late pioneering work of Rudolf Florin from the 1920's to the Devonian among the progymnosperms. This relation- early 1960's (Lundblad and Malmstrom 1966) much has ship, however, has been questioned by Rothwell(1975) been learned about the evolution and reproductive biol- on the basis of primary vasculature. The group, how- ogy of these organisms. The presence of similar mor- ever, that most paleobotanists regard as the oldest in the phological and anatomical characters, in combination coniferophyte line is the Cordaitales. These plants are with comparative studies of the reproductive structures, mostly Pennsylvanian and Permian in age. still indicates possible cordaitalean affinities for the Cordaites, now known to have been a more diverse conifers. Our knowledge of primitive conifer groups, group than once thought (Whiteside 1974), may have however, has been expanded in recent years as a result of reached 30 m in height and bore large strap-shaped investigations by a great number of workers. leaves up to 1 m long. They bore their reproductive The purpose of this paper is to review some thoughts structures in loose stobili called inflorescences. The with respect to conifer origins and consider how these inflorescences (Cordaianthus) are monosporangiate, For personal use only. have changed since the time of Florin, and to discuss bearing either ovules or pollen sacs. The inflorescence some ideas dealing with the early evolution of certain consists of an axis with two or four rows of bracts fossil and modem conifer families. The main emphasis (Rothwell 1977; Daghlian and Taylor 1979). In the axil will be comparative morphology of the reproductive of each bract is a short shoot or dwarf shoot with structures. helically arranged scales. Pollen cones have from four to The plants we know as coniferophytes (Coniferophy- six pollen sacs borne at the tip of each scale. Recently, a tina) are currently divided into three orders: Voltziales, new cordaitean pollen organ has been described from Taxales, and Coniferales. Of these three orders, the Kentucky; Gothania lesliam Daghlian and Taylor Voltziales, sometimes called the transition conifers, are (1979) contains pollen referable to the dispersed spore thought to be ancestral to other conifer groups. Their genus Felixipollenites, while the pollen cones of Cor- geologic range is Pennsylvanian to Cretaceous. The daianthus contain grains of the Florinites type (Millay Taxales, represented by five living genera, have a fossil and Taylor 1974). The ovulate cones or inflorescences record extending back to the L~werJurassic and (also Cordaianthus) exhibit radially symmetrical short continuing to the recent. The third order, the Conifer- shoots in the axils of bracts. Ovules attached to the short Can. J. Bot. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Simon Fraser University on 11/15/14 ales, has fossil representatives by the Triassic period. shoot are stalked, orthotropous, and roughly heart The Coniferales are divided into six or seven families: shaped. Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae, Cupressaceae, Taxo- diaceae, Pinaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, and Palissyaceae. Voltziales The Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae are sometimes put During the time that cordaites flourished (Carboni- into one large family (Eckenwalder 1976). ferous-Permian) the voltzialean conifers are also present paper was presented in a symposium entitled ~~d-in the fossil record. In current classification schemes the mark Events in the Evolution of Plants, co-sponsored by the Voltziales contains three families: the Lebachiaceae, Canadian Botanical Association and the Canadian Association Voltziaceae, and Cheirolepidiaceae. The imbricate, of Palynologists at Carleton Unive'rsity on June 21, 1979. needlelike foliage of some of these conifers (Lebachia, 0008-40261811101932-09$01.00/0 01981 National Research Council of CanadalConseil national de recherches du Canada STOCKEY 1933 Walchia) looked similar to that of living Araucaria ceae. The structure of the integuments too, with an heterophylla (Mirb.) Franco, the Norfolk Island pine. In extensive system of tightly compacted sclereids as general, members of the Lebachiaceae had more com- described by Schweitzer (1963) is similar to some of the pact cones than the cordaites. Lebachia has one erect living and fossil araucarians (Stockey 1975, 1978). ovule that is borne terminally on each radially symmet- In addition to these genera there are a large number of rical short shoot in the axil of a bifurcate bract (Fig. 1). other conifers in the Voltziaceae that all show bilaterally Another genus in this family, Ernestiodendron, has three symmetrical, reduced short shoots, or flattened lobed to seven ovules per short shoot; and the scales or sterile scales in the axils of bracts. Aethophyllum from the elements of the short shoot are few to none in different Triassic of France has recently been placed in the species of the genus (Fig. 3). The ovules are either erect Voltziales by Grauvogel-Stamm and Grauvogel (1975). or inverted. There is, in addition, a noted difference in Young plants, pollen and seed cones, and foliage are symmetry of the short shoot which is flattened or known. There are five sterile lobes and five inverted bilaterally symmetrical (Florin 1951). Both Lebachia ovules in the axil of a bract (Fig. 7). Seedlings are and Ernestiodendron are Upper Carboniferous to Lower known to have epigeal germination and two cotyledons. Permian in age. Both juvenile and mature foliage are known for the A recent discovery from the Permian of Texas (Miller genus that is now considered by Grauvogel-Stamm and Brown 1973) has expanded our knowledge about the (1978) to belong to its own family. The ovulate cones diversity of reproductive structures within the Lebach- are most closely compared with Cryptomeria D. Don iaceae. The ovulate cone of Moyliostrobus texanum and the fossil Swedenborgia Nathorst. Miller and Brown combines several features of Le- Another interesting Triassic genus Cycadocarpidium, bachia and some of those of Ernestiodendron (Fig. 2). also redescribed by Grauvogel-Stamm (1978), has One seed per scale and numerous sterile scales per short cones up to 30 mm in length with cone-scale complexes shoot are like those found in Lebachia. The bilaterally inserted nearly at right angles to the axis. The ovulifer- symmetrical short shoot is similar to the cones of ous scale is trilobed (each lobe coming to a fine point) Ernestiodendron. fused to and borne in the axil of a long (11 mm) In addition to these types of reproductive structures lanceolate bract (Fig. 8). There are usually two to three there are a large number of late Paleozoic vegetative inverted seeds per scale that are roughly rectangular in remains that are unlike those of Lebachia or Ernestio- shape with lateral wings and resemble seeds of Sciado- dendron. One of these is Carpentieria frondosa pitys or Taiwania of the Taxodiaceae. (Goepp.) Florin (Fig. 4) from the Lower Permian, the Florin documented several intermediate stages be- For personal use only. lateral shoot system of which resembles "the walchias" tween the short shoot or dwarf shoot of cordaites and the (Florin 1951). Leaves of this plant are bifurcate and may ovuliferous scale of conifers. Changes that have taken indicate that the entire conifer leaf has arisen from the place involve: the general reduction of the inflorescence forked type by reduction. axis, a flattening to the short shoot, a fusion of the sterile Members of the family Voltziaceae have been used by parts of the dwarf shoot, fusion of the ovule axis to the Florin to show intermediate stages between the Le- scale, and eventual elimination of the ovule axis, total bachiaceae and modern conifers. Pseudovoltzia (Per- reduction in the number of fertile parts, and the mian age), recently reinvestigated by Schweitzer reduction in number of ovules from many to few. There (1963), has a bilaterally symmetrical short shoot in the has also been a change in ovule position from ortho- axil of a bract with five sterile lobes that are fused to the tropous to anatropous in some conifer groups. It is bract at their bases (Fig. 9). There are three stalked important to note that Cordaianthus and early forms ovules, the stalks fused to the short shoot.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • International Organisation of Palaeobotany IOP NEWSLETTER
    INTERNATIONAL UNION OF BIOLOGIC A L S C IENC ES S ECTION FOR P A L A EOBOTANY International Organisation of Palaeobotany IOP NEWSLETTER 110 August 2016 CONTENTS FROM THE SECRETARY/TREASURER IPC XIV/IOPC X 2016 IOPC 2020 IOP MEMBERSHIP IOP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTIONS IOP WEBMASTER POSITION WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OUPH COLLECTIONS? THE PALAEOBOTANY OF ITALY UPCOMING MEETINGS CALL FOR NEWS and NOTES The views expressed in the newsletter are those of its correspondents, and do not necessarily reflect the policy of IOP. Please send us your contributions for the next edition of our newsletter (June 2016) by M ay 30th, 2016. President: Johanna Eder-Kovar (G ermany) Vice Presidents: Bob Spicer (Great Britain), Harufumi Nishida (Japan), M ihai Popa (Romania) M embers at Large: Jun W ang (China), Hans Kerp (Germany), Alexej Herman (Russia) Secretary/Treasurer/Newsletter editor: M ike Dunn (USA) Conference/Congress Chair: Francisco de Assis Ribeiro dos Santos IOP Logo: The evolution of plant architecture (© by A. R. Hemsley) I OP 110 2 August 2016 FROM THE In addition, please send any issues that you think need to be addressed at the Business SECRETARY/TREASURER meeting. I will add those to the Agenda. Dear IOP Members, Respectfully, Mike I am happy to report, that IOP seems to be on track and ready for a new Executive Council to take over. The elections are IPC XIV/IOPC X 2016 progressing nicely and I will report the results in the September/October Newsletter. The one area that is still problematic is the webmaster position. We really to talk amongst ourselves, and find someone who is willing and able to do the job.
    [Show full text]
  • (Voltziales) from the Triassic of Antarctica
    Int. J. Plant Sci. 174(3):425–444. 2013. Ó 2013 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. 1058-5893/2013/17403-0014$15.00 DOI: 10.1086/668686 WHOLE-PLANT CONCEPT AND ENVIRONMENT RECONSTRUCTION OF A TELEMACHUS CONIFER (VOLTZIALES) FROM THE TRIASSIC OF ANTARCTICA Benjamin Bomfleur,1,* Anne-Laure Decombeix,y Ignacio H. Escapa,z Andrew B. Schwendemann,* and Brian Axsmith§ *Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, U.S.A., and Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, U.S.A.; yUniversite´ Montpellier 2, Unite´ Mixte de Recherche Botanique et Bioinformatique de l’Architecture des Plantes (UMR AMAP), Montpellier, F-34000, France, and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR AMAP, Montpellier, F-34000, France; zConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientı´ficas y Te´cnicas—Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio, Trelew, Chubut 9100, Argentina; and §Department of Biological Sciences, LSCB 124, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688, U.S.A. We present a whole-plant concept for a genus of voltzialean conifers on the basis of compression/impression and permineralized material from the Triassic of Antarctica. The reconstruction of the individual organs is based on a combination of organic connections, structural correspondences, similarities in cuticles and epidermal morphologies, co-occurrence data, and ex situ palynology. The affiliated genera of organs include trunks, branches, and roots (Notophytum); strap-shaped leaves with parallel venation (Heidiphyllum compressions and permineralized Notophytum leaves); seed cones (Telemachus and Parasciadopitys); pollen cones (Switzianthus); and bisaccate pollen of Alisporites type. Structural similarities lead us to suggest that Parasciadopitys is the permineralized state of a Telemachus cone and should be treated as a junior synonym.
    [Show full text]
  • The Possible Pollen Cone of the Late Triassic Conifer Heidiphyllum/Telemachus (Voltziales) from Antarctica
    KU ScholarWorks | http://kuscholarworks.ku.edu Please share your stories about how Open Access to this article benefits you. The Possible Pollen Cone of the Late Triassic Conifer Heidiphyllum/ Telemachus (Voltziales) From Antarctica by Benjamin Bomfleur, Rudolph Serbet, Edith L. Taylor, and Thomas N. Taylor 2011 This is the published version of the article, made available with the permission of the publisher. The original published version can be found at the link below. Bomfleur, B., Serbet, R., Taylor, E., and Taylor, N. 2011. The Possible Pollen Cone of the Late Triassic Conifer Heidiphyllum/Telemachus (Voltziales) From Antarctica. Antarctic Science 23(4): 379-385. Published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954102011000241 Terms of Use: http://www2.ku.edu/~scholar/docs/license.shtml This work has been made available by the University of Kansas Libraries’ Office of Scholarly Communication and Copyright. Antarctic Science 23(4), 379–385 (2011) & Antarctic Science Ltd 2011 doi:10.1017/S0954102011000241 The possible pollen cone of the Late Triassic conifer Heidiphyllum/Telemachus (Voltziales) from Antarctica BENJAMIN BOMFLEUR, RUDOLPH SERBET, EDITH L. TAYLOR and THOMAS N. TAYLOR Division of Paleobotany at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA bbomfl[email protected] Abstract: Fossil leaves of the Voltziales, an ancestral group of conifers, rank among the most common plant fossils in the Triassic of Gondwana. Even though the foliage taxon Heidiphyllum has been known for more than 150 years, our knowledge of the reproductive organs of these conifers still remains very incomplete. Seed cones assigned to Telemachus have become increasingly well understood in recent decades, but the pollen cones belonging to these Mesozoic conifers are rare.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Supplementary Materials and Methods 1 S1 Expanded
    1 Supplementary Materials and Methods 2 S1 Expanded Geologic and Paleogeographic Information 3 The carbonate nodules from Montañez et al., (2007) utilized in this study were collected from well-developed and 4 drained paleosols from: 1) the Eastern Shelf of the Midland Basin (N.C. Texas), 2) Paradox Basin (S.E. Utah), 3) Pedregosa 5 Basin (S.C. New Mexico), 4) Anadarko Basin (S.C. Oklahoma), and 5) the Grand Canyon Embayment (N.C. Arizona) (Fig. 6 1a; Richey et al., (2020)). The plant cuticle fossils come from localities in: 1) N.C. Texas (Lower Pease River [LPR], Lake 7 Kemp Dam [LKD], Parkey’s Oil Patch [POP], and Mitchell Creek [MC]; all representing localities that also provided 8 carbonate nodules or plant organic matter [POM] for Montañez et al., (2007), 2) N.C. New Mexico (Kinney Brick Quarry 9 [KB]), 3) S.E. Kansas (Hamilton Quarry [HQ]), 4) S.E. Illinois (Lake Sara Limestone [LSL]), and 5) S.W. Indiana (sub- 10 Minshall [SM]) (Fig. 1a, S2–4; Richey et al., (2020)). These localities span a wide portion of the western equatorial portion 11 of Euramerica during the latest Pennsylvanian through middle Permian (Fig. 1b). 12 13 S2 Biostratigraphic Correlations and Age Model 14 N.C. Texas stratigraphy and the position of pedogenic carbonate samples from Montañez et al., (2007) and cuticle were 15 inferred from N.C. Texas conodont biostratigraphy and its relation to Permian global conodont biostratigraphy (Tabor and 16 Montañez, 2004; Wardlaw, 2005; Henderson, 2018). The specific correlations used are (C. Henderson, personal 17 communication, August 2019): (1) The Stockwether Limestone Member of the Pueblo Formation contains Idiognathodus 18 isolatus, indicating that the Carboniferous-Permian boundary (298.9 Ma) and base of the Asselian resides in the Stockwether 19 Limestone (Wardlaw, 2005).
    [Show full text]
  • Evolutionary Lines of Conifers from the Early-Middle Triassic (Anisian) Piz Da Peres (Dolomites-Northern Italy)
    EVOLUTIONARY LINES OF CONIFERS FROM THE EARLY-MIDDLE TRIASSIC (ANISIAN) PIZ DA PERES (DOLOMITES-NORTHERN ITALY) by MICHAEL WACHTLER Wachtler, M.: Conifers 1 Dolomythos Published online by the Dolomythos Museum, Innichen, South Tyrol, Italy. Dolomythos includes results of original research on systematic, evolutionary, morphological and ecological biology, including paleontology. Syntheses and other theoretical papers, based on re- search, are also welcome. Dolomythos is intended primarily for papers by the staff of the Dolomy- thos Museum or on research using material in this Museum. Editorial staff: Edith Campei, Michael Wachtler Dolomythos is published at frequent but irregular intervals. Manuscripts, orders for publications, and all correspondence concerning publications should be sent to: Museum Dolomythos Rainerstraße 11 39038 Innichen Italy mail: [email protected] Print: Technolab Communication srl, TLAB Editrice Viale Pecori Giraldi, 20/B 36061 Bassano del Grappa (VI) - IT www.technolab.it ISBN 978-88-904127 Please cite this articles as: Wachtler, M., (06/2011): Evolutionary lines of conifers from the Early-Middle Triassic (Anisian) Piz da Peres (Dolomites - Northern Italy), Dolomythos, 3-72 Innichen. 1 Michael Wachtler, P. P. Rainerstrasse 11, 39038 Innichen, Italy, e-mail michael@wachtler. com Dolomythos, 2011 2 EVOLUTIONARY LINES OF CONIFERS FROM THE EARLY-MIDDLE TRIASSIC (ANISIAN) PIZ DA PERES (DOLOMITES-NORTHERN ITALY) by Michael Wachtler P. P. Rainerstrasse 11, 39038 Innichen, Italy; E-mail: [email protected] Abstract The conifers built some of the dominant plant assemblages of the Early-Middle Triassic floras in the Dolomites. New discoveries, especially of their fructifications, suggest that their evolv- ing lines had to be interpreted in a new manner.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Summary of Professional Accomplishments 1. Name Anna
    Summary of Professional Accomplishments 1. Name Anna Mader 2. Diplomas, degrees conferred in specific areas of science or arts, including the name of the institution which conferred the degree, year of degree conferment, title of the PhD dissertation 1986: Master’s degree diploma at the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Jagiellonian University. 1986: Master’s degree in geology, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences of the Jagiellonian University. 1991: Defense of PhD dissertation “Palynological stratigraphy of Upper Permian and Lower Buntsandstein in the western part of the Holy Cross Mountains” at the Polish Geological Institute 1991: Doctor of Natural Sciences in the field of geology, awarded by the Scientific Council of the Polish Geological Institute 3. Information on employment in research institutes or faculties/departments or school of arts 1986 – 1999 Polish Geological Institute, Holy Cross Branch 25-953 Kielce, ul. Zgoda 21 2010 – 2014 Polish Geological Institute –National Research Institute, Holy Cross Branch, 25-953 Kielce, ul. Zgoda 21 2014 – 2018 Polish Geological Institute –National Research Institute 00-975 Warszawa, ul. Rakowiecka 4 2018 – present day Polish Geological Institute –National Research Institute, Holy Cross Branch, 25-953 Kielce, ul. Zgoda 21 1986 –1987 Intern 1987 – 1988 Geologist 1989 senior Geologist 1989 – 1990 Assistant 1990 – 1991 senior Assistant 1991 – 1992 Assistant 1992 – 1999 Lecturer (adjunct) 1999 – 2010 break in work due to family situation 2010 – 2011 senior specialist in geology 2011 – 2018 Lecturer (adjunct) 2018 senior museum curator 2018 – present day senior specialist in geology 1 4. Description of the achievements, set out in art. 219 par. 1 point 2 of the Act 4.1.
    [Show full text]
  • Curriculum Vitae
    CURRICULUM VITAE ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0186-6546 Gar W. Rothwell Edwin and Ruth Kennedy Distinguished Professor Emeritus Department of Environmental and Plant Biology Porter Hall 401E T: 740 593 1129 Ohio University F: 740 593 1130 Athens, OH 45701 E: [email protected] also Courtesy Professor Department of Botany and PlantPathology Oregon State University T: 541 737- 5252 Corvallis, OR 97331 E: [email protected] Education Ph.D.,1973 University of Alberta (Botany) M.S., 1969 University of Illinois, Chicago (Biology) B.A., 1966 Central Washington University (Biology) Academic Awards and Honors 2018 International Organisation of Palaeobotany lifetime Honorary Membership 2014 Fellow of the Paleontological Society 2009 Distinguished Fellow of the Botanical Society of America 2004 Ohio University Distinguished Professor 2002 Michael A. Cichan Award, Botanical Society of America 1999-2004 Ohio University Presidential Research Scholar in Biomedical and Life Sciences 1993 Edgar T. Wherry Award, Botanical Society of America 1991-1992 Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award, Ohio University 1982-1983 Chairman, Paleobotanical Section, Botanical Society of America 1972-1973 University of Alberta Dissertation Fellow 1971 Paleobotanical (Isabel Cookson) Award, Botanical Society of America Positions Held 2011-present Courtesy Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University 2008-2009 Visiting Senior Researcher, University of Alberta 2004-present Edwin and Ruth Kennedy Distinguished Professor of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio
    [Show full text]
  • Transformative Paleobotany
    Chapter 6 Lower Permian Flora of the Sanzenbacher Ranch, Clay County, Texas William A. DiMichele1, Robert W. Hook2, Hans Kerp3, Carol L. Hotton1,4, Cindy V. Looy5 and Dan S. Chaney1 1NMNH Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States; 2The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States; 3Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany; 4National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; 5University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States 1. INTRODUCTION 1985; Broutin, 1986; Popa, 1999; Steyer et al., 2000; Wagner and Mayoral, 2007; Bercovici and Broutin, 2008; Since 1989, field parties supported by the U.S. National Barthel, 2009; Wagner and Álvarez-Vázquez, 2010; Museum of Natural History have obtained large collections Barthel and Brauner, 2015). Furthermore, because this of mainly Permian plant fossils from north central Texas. locality was collected on three occasions over a time period This work was undertaken to study known localities and to of 50 years and by different parties, comparative analysis of find new fossiliferous deposits that would contribute to a the Sanzenbacher collections provides a basis for assessing better understanding of floral and paleoenvironmental sites that have comparable histories. changes within the region during the early Permian. From the outset, the effort was interdisciplinary and grew, through the contributions of nearly 20 paleobotanists, 2. GEOLOGY palynologists, invertebrate and vertebrate paleontologists, Clay County is the only county in the Permo-Carboniferous and sedimentary geologists of several subdisciplines, to be outcrop belt of north central Texas that lacks marine rocks. quite comprehensive. Our reporting of results, however, has These alluvial sediments accumulated east of a broad been influenced by unexpected developments, including the coastal plain that bordered the Eastern Shelf of the Midland discovery of new plant-fossil assemblages in areas once Basin.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Seed Storage, Germination, Quality, and Enhancements
    1 Seed Storage, Germination, Quality, and Enhancements Alan G. Taylor School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Unit, Cornell AgriTech, Cornell University, Geneva, New York 14456, USA Before vegetables are harvested, before their The focus of this chapter is on postharvest growth and development, even before the seed- aspects of seeds; the period of seed development ling becomes photosynthetically competent, the and production stages are not addressed. We start source of the vegetable—the seed—holds major with storage of seeds with low moisture content keys to final product yield. To fully comprehend as most vegetable crop seeds have unique char- the complexities of vegetable crop growth and acteristics that permit them to withstand desic- development, we must understand seed physi- cation (Leopold and Vertucci, 1986). Desiccation ology related to storage, germination, quality, tolerance is essential for long-term survival and and enhancements. The challenge is to present allows for a time interval between seed produc- an in-depth knowledge of vegetable seeds that tion and crop production. Most vegetable seeds covers considerable diversity with respect to bo- imbibe water readily and, provided with a suit- tanical classification, seed size, and composition. able environment, will germinate and resume This chapter and book encompasses 33 common active growth. The seed uses its reserve materials vegetable crop seeds from ten plant families following germination and then becomes an (Table 1.1). This diverse group of plants makes a active photosynthetic seedling, fixing its own comprehensive overview of vegetable seeds diffi- carbon and producing energy. cult to achieve, especially since there is little sci- Seed quality is a broad term and encom- entific literature on seed physiology of many passes several attributes of seeds including the small-seeded crops of minor economic import- germination and seedling performance.
    [Show full text]
  • The Seed Cone Eathiestrobus Gen. Nov.: Fossil Evidence for a Jurassic
    American Journal of Botany 99(4): 708–720. 2012. T HE SEED CONE E ATHIESTROBUS GEN. NOV.: 1 F OSSIL EVIDENCE FOR A JURASSIC ORIGIN OF PINACEAE G AR W . R OTHWELL 2,3,6 , G ENE M APES 2 , R UTH A . S TOCKEY 3,4 AND J ASON H ILTON 5 2 Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701 USA; 3 Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA; 4 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada; and 5 School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK • Premise of the study: Pinaceae and nonpinoid species are sister groups within the conifer clade as inferred from molecular systematic comparisons of living species and therefore should have comparable geological ages. However, the fossil record for the nonpinoid lineage of extant conifer families is Triassic, nearly 100 million years older than the oldest widely accepted Lower Cretaceous record for Pinaceae. An anatomically preserved fossil conifer seed cone described here extends the strati- graphic range of Pinaceae nearly 30 million years, thus reducing the apparent discrepancy between evidence from the fossil record and inferences from systematic studies of living species. • Methods: Material was prepared as serial thin sections by the cellulose acetate peel technique, mounted on microscope slides, and viewed and photographed using transmitted light. • Key results: A large cylindrical cone consisting of bract-scale complexes that diverge from the cone axis in a helical phyllotaxis has bracts and scales that separate from each other in the midregion and are of equal length and of nearly equal width.
    [Show full text]
  • Flower Speciesspecies
    13 June 2011 ISTA GERMINATION SEMINAR GERMINATIONGERMINATION CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS OFOF FLOWERFLOWER SPECIESSPECIES RITA ZECCHINELLI - ISTA FLOWER SEED TESTING COMMITTEE Luca Flower species in the ISTA Rules: . 352 species . 192 genera . 55 families 13 June 2011 ISTA GERMINATION SEMINAR RITA ZECCHINELLI DICOTYLEDON FAMILIES Family N°genera N°species Family N°genera N°species Acanthaceae 1 1 Hypericaceae 1 1 Aizoaceae 1 1 Iridaceae 1 1 Amaranthaceae 3 6 Lamiaceae 14 21 Apiaceae 3 4 Linaceae 1 4 Apocynaceae 1 1 Malvaceae 6 7 Araliaceae 2 2 Nyctaginaceae 1 1 Asclepiadeaceae 1 1 Onograceae 2 4 Asteraceae 49 86 Papaveraceae 3 7 MONOCOTYLEDON FAMILIES Balsaminaceae 1 2 Plumbaginaceae 4 8 Family N°genera N°species Begoniaceae 1 2 Polemoniaceae 3 5 Amaryllidaceae 1 1 Boraginaceae 6 10 Polygonaceae 1 1 Asparagaceae 1 2 Brassicaceae 11 22 Portulaceae 1 1 Asphodelaceae 1 1 Campanulaceae 3 13 Primulaceae 3 12 Liliaceae 1 1 Capparidaceae 1 1 Proteaceae 1 1 Poaceae 2 2 Caryophyllaceae 6 16 Ranuncolaceae 7 20 Chenopodiaceae 1 1 Resedaceae 1 1 Cistaceae 1 1 Rosaceae 2 3 Convolvulaceae 2 5 Rutaceae 1 1 Crassulaceae 1 3 Saxifragaceae 1 1 Dipsacaceae 1 2 Scrophulariaceae 10 22 Fabaceae 4 8 Solanaceae 9 15 Gentianaceae 1 1 Tropaeolaceae 1 3 Geraniaceae 2 2 Valerianceae 1 1 Gesneriaceae 2 2 Verbenaceae 2 4 Hydrophyllaceae 3 4 Violaceae 1 3 13 June 2011 ISTA GERMINATION SEMINAR RITA ZECCHINELLI What flower species have in common? . ornamental use . fast changing trends in the market . for seed testing laboratories - less experience in standardized
    [Show full text]
  • Seed Germination Theory and Practice
    993 SEED GERMINATION THEORY AND PRACTICE SECOND EDITION Norman C. Deno, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Published June 1, 1993 (Second Printing November 1, 1993) Based on Experiments on 145 Families, 805 Genera, and about 2500 Species Every species has some mechanism for delaying germination until after the seed has been dispersed. The Science of Seed Germination is the discovery and description of such mechanisms and the development of procedures for removing them so that the seeds can germinate. To Plant a Seed Is a Noble Deed Propagation Is Conservation • •.•• USDA National Agricufturaj Library HAL Builthng 10301 Baltimore Blvd. 8eitsvde. MD 20705.2351 to SEED GERMINATION, THEORY AND PRACTICE Norman C. Deno, Prof. Emeritus of Chemistry, (Pennsylvania State University) Address all inquiries and orders to Norman C. Deno, 139 Lenor Drive, State College PA 16801, USA Table of Contents by Chapters Page 1 (A) Introduction and (B) Principles 1 2 Germination, Definition and Description 7 3 Design of the Experiments 9 4 Rates of Germination. 18 5 Inhibitor Destruction by Dry Storage 21 6 Inhibitor Destruction by Moist Conditions 24 7 Two or More Inhibiting Systems 30 8 Seeds Embedded in Fruits 33 9 Physical Mechanisms for Inhibiting Germination 37 10 Outdoor Exposure and Oscillating Temperatures- 41 11 Photoeffects 43 12 Exogenous Chemical Effects and the Stimulation of 47 Germination by Gibberelins 13 Dry Storage and Longevity of Seeds 53 14 Growing Plants from Seeds 55 15 Collection of Seeds 62 16 Plant Nomenclature 64 17 Endangered Species and Conservation 67 18 Lists of Genera Studied Arranged by Their Plant Families 68 19 Rate Theory In More Detail 75 20 Data On Germination Arranged by Genera 81 21 The Orchids (Orchidaceae) 234 22 The Grasses (Poaceae) 236 23 List of Seed Donors and Other Contributors 237 24 List of References 240 25 Digest of Symbols and Abbreviations 242 .5.
    [Show full text]