Effect of Maternal Light Environment on Seed Germination in Piper auritum

Abstract

The effect of maternal light environment on the light sensitivity of seeds of a rain forest pioneer tree Piper auritum was studied. In relation to the red:far-red (R:FR) value at maturation, spikes were classified as exposed (R:FR = 0.83-O.86), intermediate (0.57), shaded (0.40, 0.41) and deep shaded (0.26). Differences in the light quality that the spikes experience during maturation cause different germination responses of seeds to R:FR ratio. One of the most distinct results was that high R:FR during maturation induced partial germination inhibition at different R:FR ratios in the germination environment. Very low R:FR at maturation had comparable effects. In the field, seed germination was elicited by inbibition prior to light exposure (...)