CDD: 582.1304166 
582.0334 
THE EFFECT OF SUBMERGENCE ON SEED 
GERMINATION IN TREES FROM AMAZONIAN 
FLOODPLAINS 
Pia ParoUn' 
W J. Jiink' 
ABSTRACT - Rapicl and exactly timed seed gennination is esscntial 
for the eslablislinient and survival of seedlings in Central Ainazonian 
floodplains, wliere the non-flooded period is short. The peak of 
frititing occiirs at high water, and the seeds inust tolerate extended 
periods of flooding and often snbniergence. Gennination starts 
immediately after the retreat of the flood, bnt it is not clear if 
snbniergence is directiy responsible for the inhibition of seed 
gennination. In the present paper, an experinient was perfonned 
with twelve tree species froin Ainazonian floodplains to test whether 
seed gennination occiirs only in non-flooded seeds. Ten pairs of 
each species consisting of I plastic ciip + seed + soil, and 1 ciip + 
seed + soil 4- water (5 cm) were tested for gennination. Thirty to 
100 % of the non-siibinerged seeds gerniinated after seven weeks. 
Foiir species showed radicle growth, bnt no species prodnced a 
shoot as long as it nas snbnierged. Independent froin phylogenetic 
constraints and froni growth strategies aniong the twelve chosen 
species, the tiiiiing of gerniination was closely linked to retreating 
flood water, gnaranteeing efficient seediing establishnient in the 
floodplains prior to re-snbniergence. 
KEY WORDS: Aniazonian floodplains, Seed gerniination, 
Submergence, Tree establishment, Viability. 
ABSTRACT - O período e.xato e rápido da germinação de sementes 
c essencial para o estabelecimento e a sobrevivência de plântnias em 
áreas alagáveis da Amazônia Central, onde a fase terrestre c limitada. 
O pico de frutificação ocorre durante a fase acpiática, e as sementes 
' Ma.x-l’lanck-lnstitiite fiir Limncilogy. A(1 Tropcniikologio. 1’ostl'ach 165. 24302 IMon. 
(ienuany. |)iapaioliii@gin.x.iJc 
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