Seed desiccation tolerance and effect of flooding on the propagation of Senecio carbonellii (Asteraceae): implications for conservation

Abstract

Abstract Senecio carbonellii, an endemic plant of Colombia, is classified as critically endangered in the wetlands of Bogotá D. C. This study aims to determine the desiccation tolerance and longevity of S. carbonellii seeds and evaluate the effect of flooding on seed germination and plant growth to provide information for the development of conservation strategies for the species. For this purpose, we assessed the germination, viability (using tetrazolium testing), and longevity of desiccated seeds compared to seeds with initial moisture. We also evaluated the effect of flooding on the emergence and growth of seedlings and plants under nursery conditions. Our findings indicated that the seed viability and germination percentages were significantly higher in the seeds with initial moisture compared to desiccated seeds. However, we observed that viability is maintained even after storing the seeds for more than two years, indicating that the seeds partially tolerate desiccation and that they are likely to have an intermediate storage behavior. Furthermore, flooding depth reduced the stem number, diameter, and length of plants. The results revealed that flooding negatively affects emergence and growth in the nursery.

Keywords

• germination
• growth
• nursery
• submergence
• wetlands