Germinability of true mountainmahogany achenes as influenced by soil and other environmental factors

Abstract

Differences in percent germination, percent filled, and weights of true mountainmahogany achenes collected on four mountain soils were highly significant (p=.01). Germination, fill and weight were greater, also at the .01 level, for achenes from northwest aspects than for achenes from southwest aspects. Achenes with highest germination were from plants on northwest aspects in the least fertile soil, which had the lowest natural population of mahogany. Contrastingly, achenes with lowest germination were from southwest aspects on the most fertile soil, where mahogany plants were most abundant. Reasons for this apparent contradiction are explored. Microenvironmental factors are important in determining mountain mahogany achene viability.

Citation

Smith, Dwight R.; Bass, Louis N. 1973. Germinability of true mountainmahogany achenes as influenced by soil and other environmental factors. Proceedings of the Association of Official Seed Analysts. 63: 126-134.