Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Priming effects on seed germination and seedling vigour in two perennial grasses targeted for degraded arid ecosystem restoration

  • Published:
Folia Geobotanica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Restoration practices in arid ecosystems based on native species are urgently required to face desertification. In this context, knowledge about germination of species of arid ecosystems and seed enhancement technologies, such as seed priming to improve plant establishment, could be a basis to plan a restoration project. We assessed the effect of priming treatments to enhance germination in Stipa lagascae and Cenchrus ciliaris. Pretreated S. lagascae and C. ciliaris seeds (two levels of hydropriming, osmopriming and hardening) were subjected to diverse temperatures (20°C, 25°C and 30°C) and increasing drought stress levels (Ψw: −0.3 to −2 MPa). The priming tools, successfully implemented, enhanced seed and seedling performance. Hardened and osmoprimed C. ciliaris and S. lagascae seeds were found to germinate the most at 25°C and 20°C, up to about 96.7% and 90.84%, respectively. At Ψw = −1.6 MPa, no seed germination was observed in the two species in all priming pre-treatments. Pretreated grass seedlings exhibited sturdy strategies (seedling vigour up to 343), great plasticity (RDPI over 0.5) and a significant resource use efficiency. The hydrotime model analysis showed that priming slightly aids seeds of the two species in germination under lower water potential. In conclusion, priming could be a useful tool to improve germination rates, seedling establishment and plasticity under stressful drought conditions. Considering these results in the field of seed-based restoration and the identification of the most urgent research lines is paramount to guide the restoration practices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abiri R, Azmi N S, Maziah M, Balia Yusof ZN, Atabaki N, Sahebi M, Azizi P (2016) Quantitative assessment of indica rice germination to hydropriming, hormonal priming and polyethylene glycol priming. Chil J Agr Res 76:392–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Aganga AA, Autlwetse MN (2000) Utilization of sorghum, forage, millet forage, veldt grass and buffel grass by Tswana sheep and goats when fed Lablab purpureus L. as protein supplement. Amer Australasian J Anim Sci 13:1127–1132

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson RA (2020) Novel techniques to improve restoration of native range-land species. MSc Thesis. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

  • Badford KJ (2002) Applications of hydrothermal time to quantifying and modelling seed germination and dormancy. Weed Sci 50:248–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Balaguer L, Martı´nez-Ferri E, Valladares F, Pe´rez-Corona ME, Baquedano FJ, Castillo FJ, Manrique E (2001) Population divergence in the plasticity of the response of Quercus coccifera to the light environment. Funct Ecol 15:124–135

  • Baskin JM, Baskin CC, Dixon KW (2006) Physical dormancy in the endemic Australian genus Stylobasium, a first report for the family Surianaceae (Fabales). Seed Sci Res 16:229–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Basra SMA, Zia MN, Mehmood T, Afzal IKA (2002) Comparison of different invigoration techniques in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds. J Agric Biol Sci 6:26–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer S (2016) The United Nations and the fight against desertification: What role for the UNCCD secretariat? In Johnson PM, Mayrand K, Paquin M (eds) Governing global desertification: linking environmental degradation, poverty, and participation. Routledge pp 93–108

  • Bedunah DJ, Angerer JP (2012) Rangeland degradation, poverty, and conflict: How can rangeland scientists contribute to effective responses and solutions? Rangeland Ecol Managem 65:606–612

    Google Scholar 

  • Berchie JN, Adu-Dapaah H, Sarkodie-A J, Asare E, Agyemang A, Addy S, Donkoh J (2010) Effect of seed priming on seedling emergence and establishment of four bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) landraces. J Agron 9:180–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Berendsen RL, Pieterse CMJ, Bakker PAHM (2012) The rhizosphere microbiome and plant health. Trends Pl Sci 17:478–486

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford KJ (1986) Manipulation of seed water relations via osmotic priming to improve germination under stress conditions. Hort Sci 21:1105–1112

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradford KJ (1990) A water relations analysis of seed germination rates. Pl Physiol 94:840–849

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford KJ, Somasco OA (1994) Water relations of lettuce seed thermoinhibition. I. Priming and endosperm effects on base water potential. Seed Sci Res 4:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Bray C M, Davison PA, Ashraf M, Taylor RM (1989) Biochemical changes during osmopriming of leek seeds. Ann Bot (Oxford) 63:185–193

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bush EW, Wilson P, Shepard DP, Mcclure G (2000) Enhancement of seed germination in common carpetgrass and centipedegrass seed. Hort Sci 35:769–770

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceccon E, González EJ, Martorell C (2016) Is direct seeding a biologically viable strategy for restoring forest ecosystems? Evidences from a meta-analysis. Land Degradation Developm 27:511–520

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaieb M, Henchi B, Boukhris M (1996) Impact of clipping on root systems of 3 grasses species in Tunisia. J. Range Managem 49:336–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaieb M, Boukhris M (1998) Flore succinte et illustrée des zones arides et sahariennes de Tunisie. Association pour la protection de la nature et de l'environnement, L'Or du temps, pp 290

  • Chaieb M, Floret C, Le Floc’h E, Pontanier R (1992) Life history strategies and water resource allocation in five pasture species of Tunisian arid zone. Arid Soil Res Rehab 6:1–10

  • Chatterjee N, Sarkar D, Sankar A, Pal S, Singh HB, Singh RK, Bohra JS, Rakshit A (2018) On-farm seed priming interventions in agronomic crops. Acta Agric Slov 111:3–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Z, Bradford KJ (1999) Hydrothermal time analysis of tomato seed germination responses to priming treatments. J Exp Bot 50:89–99

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chunthaburee S, Sanitchon J, Pattanagul W, Theerakulpisut P (2014) Alleviation of salt stress in seedlings of black glutinous rice by seed priming with spermidine and gibberellic acid. Notul Bot Horti Agrobot 42:405–413

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowie AL, Orr BJ, Castillo Sanchez VM, Chasek P, Crossman ND, Erlewein A, Louwagie G, Maron M, Metternicht GI, Minelli S, Tengberg AE, Walter S, Welton S (2018) Land in balance: the scientific conceptual framework for land degradation neutrality. Environm Sci Policy 79:25–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawley MJ (1992) Seed predators and plant population dynamics. In Fenner M (ed.) Seeds: the ecology of regeneration in plant communities. CAB International, Wallingford UK, pp 157–191

  • Davis AS, Schutte BJ, Iannuzzi J, Renner KA (2008) Chemical and physical defense of weed seeds in relation to soil seedbank persistence. Weed Biol Managem 56:676–684

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dezfuli PM, Sharif-zadeh F, Janmohammadi M (2008) Influence of priming techniques on seed germination behavior of maize inbred lines (Zea mays L.). J Agric Biol Sci 3:22–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhief A, Aschi-smiti S, Neffati M (2014) Germination behaviour of some wild species from Tunisia desert under temperature. Herald J Agric Food Sci Res 3:20–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Erickson TE, Muñoz-Rojas M, Kildisheva OA, Stokes BA, White SA, Heyes JL et al. (2017) Benefits of adopting seed-based technologies for rehabilitation in the mining sector: a Pilbara perspective. Austral J Bot 65–6

  • Faershtein G, Porat N, Avni Y, Matmon A (2016) Aggradation-incision transition in arid environments at the end of the Pleistocene: an example from the Negev Highlands, southern Israel. Geomorphology 253:289–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Farooq M, Barsa SMA, Wahid A (2006) Priming of field-sown rice seed enhances germination, seedling establishment, allometry and yield. Pl Growth Regulat 49:285–294

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gang C, Zhou W, Chen Y, Wang Z, Sun Z, Li J, Qi J, Odeh I (2014) Quantitative assessment of the contributions of climate change and human activities on global grassland degradation. Environm Earth Sci 72:4273–4282

    Google Scholar 

  • Gianoli E (2003) Phenotypic responses of the twining vine Ipomoea purpurea (Convolvulaceae) to physical support availability in sun and shade. Pl Ecol 165:21–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Gianoli E, González-Teuber M (2005) Environmental heterogeneity and population differentiation in plasticity to drought in Convolvulus chilensis (Convolvulaceae). Evol & Ecol 19:603–613

    Google Scholar 

  • Gianoli E, Molina-Montenegro MA, Becerra J (2007) Interactive effects of leaf damage, light intensity and support availability on chemical defenses and morphology of a twining vine. J Chem Ecol 33:95–103

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goh CH, Veliz Vallejos DF, Nicotra AB, Mathesius U (2013) The impact of beneficial plant-associated microbes on plant phenotypic plasticity. J Chem Ecol 39 :826–839

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gong P, Li X, Zhang W (2019) 40-year (1978–2017) human settlement changes in China reflected by impervious surfaces from satellite remote sensing. Sci Bull 64:756–763

    Google Scholar 

  • Gratani, L., Meneghini, M., Pesoli, P. et al. 2003. Structural and functional plasticity of Quercus ilex seedlings of different provenances in Italy. Trees 17, 515–521.

  • Halmer P (2004) Methods to improve seed performance in the field. In Benech-Arnold RL, Sánchez RA (eds) Handbook of seed physiology. CRC Press, pp 125–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamdani M, Krichen K, Chaieb M (2019) Predicting leaf trait variability as a functional descriptor of the effect of climate change in three perennial grasses. Diversity 11:233

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardegree, S. P. (1994). Drying and storage primed grass seeds. J Rangeland Managem 47:196–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardegree SP, Emmerich WE (1992) Seed germination response of four southwestern range grasses to equilibration at subgermination matric-potentials. Agron J 84:994

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardegree SP, Sheley RL, Duke DE, James JJ, Boehm AR, Flerchinger GN (2016) Temporal variability in microclimatic conditions for grass germination and emergence for the sagebrush steppe. Rangeland Ecol Managem 69:123–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardegree SP, Abatzoglou JT, Brunson MW, Germino MJ, Hegewisch KC, Moffet CA, Pilliod DS, Roundy BA, Boehm AR, Meredith GR (2018) Weather-centric rangeland revegetation planning. Range Ecol Managem 71:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardegree SP, Sheley RL, Brunson MW, Taylor MH, Moffet CA (2019) Iterative- adaptive management and contingency-based restoration planning in a variable environment. Rangeland Ecol Managem 72:217–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardegree SP, Jones TA, Roundy BA, Shaw NL, Monaco TA (2011) Assessment of range planting as a conservation practice. In Briske DD (ed.) Conservation benefits of rangeland practices: assessment, recommendations, and knowledge gaps. Allen Press, Lawrence, KS, USA 171–212

  • Hoose BW, Call RS, Bates TH, Anderson RM, Roundy BA, Madsen MD (2019) Seed conglomeration: a disruptive innovation to address restoration challenges associated with small-seeded species. Restorat Ecol 27:959–965

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim EA (2016) Seed priming to alleviate salinity stress in germinating seeds. J Pl Physiol 192:38–46

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • International Seed Testing Association (1985) International Seed Testing Association. Seed Sci Technol 13:299–355

  • James JJ, Sheley RL, Leger EA, Adler PB, Hardegree SP, Gornish ES, Rinella MJ (2019) Increased soil temperature and decreased precipitation during early plant life stages constrain grass seedling recruitment in cold desert restoration. J Appl Ecol 56:2609–2619

    Google Scholar 

  • Jisha KC, Puthur JT (2016) Seed priming with BABA (β-amino butyric acid): a cost-effective method of abiotic stress tolerance in Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek. Protoplasma 253:277–289

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kildisheva OA, Erickson TE, Madsen MD, Dixon KW, Merritt DJ (2019) Seed germination and dormancy traits of forbs and shrubs important for restoration of north American dryland ecosystems. Pl Biol 21:458–469

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kildisheva OA (2019) Improving the outcomes of seed-based restoration in cold and hot deserts: an investigation into seed dormancy, germination, and seed enhancement. University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

  • Kolb A, Ehrlen J, Eriksson O (2007) Ecological and evolutionary consequences of spatial and temporal variation in pre-dispersal seed predation. Perspect Pl Ecol Evol Syst 9:79–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Krichen K, Ben Mariem H, Chaieb M (2014) Ecophysiological requirements on seed germination of a Mediterranean perennial grass (Stipa tenacissima L.) under controlled temperatures and water stress. S African J Bot 94:210–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Krichen K, Vilagrosa A, Chaieb M (2017) Environmental factors that limit Stipa tenacissima L. germination and establishment in Mediterranean arid ecosystems in a climate variability context. Acta Physiol Pl 39

  • Lewandrowski W, Erickson TE, Dalziell EL, Stevens JC (2018) Ecological nicheand bet-hedging strategies for Triodia (R.Br.) seed germination. Ann Bot (Oxford) 121:367–375

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li DZ, Pritchard HW (2009) The science and economics of ex situ plant conservation. Trends Pl Sci 14:614–621

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lima JD, Almeida CC, Dantas VAV, Silva BMdaSE, Moraes Wda S (2006) Efeito da temperatura e do substrato na germinação de sementes de Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. ex Tul. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinoideae). Rev Árv 30:513–518

  • Maestre FT, Cortina J, and Vallejo R (2006a) Are ecosystem composition, structure, and functional status related to restoration success? A test from semiarid Mediterranean steppes. Restorat Ecol 14:258–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Maestre FT, Eldridge DJ, Soliveres S, Kéfi S, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Bowker MA, García-Palacios P, Gaitán J, Gallardo A, Lázaro R (2016) Structure and functioning of dryland ecosystems in a changing world. Annual Rev Ecol Evol Syst 47:215–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangan SA, Schnitzer SA, Herre EA, Mack KML, Valencia MC, Sanchez EI, Bever J (2010) Negative plant-soil feedback predicts tree species relative abundance in a tropical forest. Nature 466:752–755

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Menz MHM, Dixon KW, Hobbs RJ (2013) Hurdles and opportunities for landscape-scale restoration. Science 339:526–527

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mganga KZ, Musimba NKR, Nyariki DM (2015) Competition indices of three perennial grasses used to rehabilitate degraded semi-arid rangelands in Kenya. Rangeland J 37:489–495

    Google Scholar 

  • Michel BE, Kaufman RM (1973) The osmotic potential of polyethylene glycol 6000. Pl Physiol 51:914–916

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Milchunas DG (2006) Responses of plant communities to grazing in the southwestern United States. USDA Forest Service – General Technical Report RMRS-GTR 169:1–129

  • Modernel P, Rossing WAH, Corbeels M, Dogliotti S, Picasso V, Tittonell P (2016) Land use change and ecosystem service provision in Pampas and Campos grasslands of southern South America. Environm Res Lett 11:113002

    Google Scholar 

  • Mondoni A, Probert RJ, Rossi G, Vegini E, Hay FR (2011) Seeds of alpine plants are short lived: implications for long-term conservation. Ann Bot (Oxford) 107:171–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Monsen SB, Stevens R, Shaw NC (2004) Restoring western ranges and wildlands. Vol. 2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, pp 295–698

  • Faijunnahar Most, Baque A, Habib MdA, Hossain HMMT (2017) Polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced changes in germination, seedling growth and water relation behaviour of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes. Pl Sci 5:49–57

  • Nevill PG, Cross AT, Dixon KW (2018) Ethical seed sourcing is a key issue in meeting global restoration targets. Curr Biol 28:1378–1379

    Google Scholar 

  • Nouman W, Siddiqui MT, Maqsood S, Basra A, Afzal I (2012) Enhancement of emergence potential and stand establishment of Moringa oleifera Lam. by seed priming. Turkish J Agric Forest 36:227–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunes A, Oliveira G, Mexia T, Valdecantos A, Zucca C, Costantini EAC, Abraham EM, Kyriazopoulos AP, Salah A, Prasse R, Correia O, Milliken S, Kotzen B, Branquinho C (2016) Ecological restoration across the Mediterranean Basin as viewed by practitioners. Sci Total Environm 566–567, 722–732

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Hanlen-Manners DL, Kotanen PM (2004) Evidence that fungal pathogens inhibit recruitment of a shade-intolerant tree, white birch (Betula papyrifera) in understory habitats. Oecologia 140:650–653

    Google Scholar 

  • Ouled Belgacem A, Neffati M, Papanastasis VP, Chaieb M (2006) Effects of seed age and seeding depth on growth of Stipa lagascae R. & Sch. seedlings. J Arid Environm 65:682–687

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedrero-López LV, Rosete-Rodríguez A, Sánchez-Coronado ME, Mendoza-Hernández PE, Orozco-Segovia A (2016) Effects of hydropriming treatments on the invigoration of aged Dodonaea viscosa seeds and water-holding polymer on the improvement of seedling growth in a lava field. Restorat Ecol 24:61–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Peraza-Villarreal H, Sánchez-Coronado ME, Lindig-Cisneros R, Tinoco-Ojanguren C, Velázquez-Rosas N, Cámara-Cabrales L, Orozco-Segovia A (2018) Seed priming effects on germination and seedling establishment of useful tropical trees for ecological restoration. Trop Conservation Sci 11–19

  • Pérez DR, González F, Ceballos C, Oneto ME, Aronson J (2019) Direct seeding and out plantings in drylands of Argentinean Patagonia: estimated costs, and prospects for large-scale restoration and rehabilitation. Restorat Ecol 27:1105–1116

    Google Scholar 

  • Qadir I, Khan ZH, Khan RA, Afzal I (2011) Evaluating the potential of seed priming techniques in improving germination and early seedling growth of various rangeland grasses. Pakistan J Bot 43:2797–2800

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qian YL, Cosenza JA, Wilhelm SJ, Christensen D (2006) Techniques for enhancing saltgrass seed germination and establishment. Crop Sci 46–2613

  • Reich P, Numbem S, Almaraz R, Eswaran H (2004) Land resource stresses and desertification in Africa. J Agric Sci 2

  • Richardson WC, Badrakh T, Roundy BA, Aanderu d ZT, Petersen SL, Allen PS,Whitaker DR, Madsen MD (2019) Influence of an abscisic acid (ABA) seedcoating on seed germination rate and timing of bluebunch wheatgrass. Ecol & Evol 9:7438–7447

  • Roundy BA, Madsen MD (2016) Frost dynamics of sagebrush steppe soils. J Soil Sci Soc Amer 80:1403–1410

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruan S, Xue Q, Tylkowska K (2002) The influence of priming on germination of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds and seedling emergence and performance in flooded soil. Seed Sci Technol 30:61–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarika G, Basavaraju G, Bhanuprakash K, Chaanakeshava B, Paramesh R, Radha B (2013) Investigations on seed viability and vigour of aged seeds by priming in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Int J Veg Sci 169–174

  • Sawma JT, Mohler CL (2002) Evaluating seed viability by an unimbibed seed crush test in comparison with the tetrazolium test 1. Weed Technol 16:781–786

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukla N, Asheesh Shanker HK, Sharma SN (2018) Hydro-priming methods for initiation of metabolic process and synchronization of germination in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) seeds. J Crop Sci Biotechnol 21:137–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Siebert ET, Richardson MD (2002) Effects of osmopriming on bermudagrass germination and establishment. Hort Studies 36–38

  • Song YY, Ye M, Li CY, Wang RL, Wei XC, Luo SM, Zeng R Sen (2013) Priming of anti-herbivore defence in tomato by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and involvement of the jasmonate pathway. J Chem Ecol 39:1036–1044

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Svejcar T, Boyd C, Davies K, Hamerlynck E, Svejcar L (2017) Challenges and limitations to native species restoration in the Great Basin, USA. Pl Ecol 218:81–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Temperton VM (2005) Assembly rules and restoration ecology: bridging the gap between theory and practice. Restorat Ecol 13:580–581

    Google Scholar 

  • Thirumaran G, Arumugam M, Arumugam R, Anantharaman P (2009) Effect of seaweed liquid fertilizer on growth and pigment concentration of Abelmoschus esculentus (l) medikus. Amer Eurasian J Sustain Agric 2:57–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Tinoco-Ojanguren C, Reyes-Ortega I, Sánchez-Coronado ME, Molina-Freaner F, Orozco-Segovia A (2016) Germination of an invasive Cenchrus ciliaris L. (buffel grass) population of the Sonoran Desert under various environmental conditions. S African J Bot 104:112–117

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valladares, F., and E. Gianoli. 2007. How much ecology do we need to know to restore Mediterranean ecosystems? Restorat Ecol 15:363–368.

  • Valladares F, Balaguer L, Martinez-Ferri E, Perez-Corona E, Manrique E (2002) Plasticity, instability and canalization: is the phenotypic variation in seedlings of sclerophyll oaks consistent with the environmental unpredictability of Mediterranean ecosystems? New Phytol 156:457–467

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valladares F, Dobarro I, Sánchez-Gómez D, Pearcy RW (2005) Photoinhibition and drought in Mediterranean woody saplings: scaling effects and interactions in sun and shade phenotypes. J Exp Bot 56:483–494

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valladares F, Sanchez D, and Zavala MA (2006) Quantitative estimation of phenotypic plasticity: bridging the gap between the evolutionary concept and its ecological applications. J Ecol 94:1103–1116

    Google Scholar 

  • Valladares F, Gianoli E, Gómez JM (2007) Ecological limits to plant phenotypic plasticity. New Phytol 176:749–763

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vallejo VR, Aronson J, Pausas JG, and Cortina J (2005) Restoration of Mediterranean woodlands. Restorat Ecol 193–207

  • Veldman JW, Buisson E, Durigan G, Fernandes GW, Le Stradic S, Mahy G, Negreiros D, Overbeck GE, Veldman RG, Zaloumis NP, et al (2015) Toward an old-growth concept for grasslands, savannas, and woodlands. Frontiers Ecol Environm 13:154–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner M, Pywell RF, Bullock JM, Heard MS, Knopp T (2011) The germination niches of grassland species targeted for restoration: effects of seed pre-treatments. Seed Sci Res 21:117–131

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Bingru H (2004) Physiological recovery of Kentucky bluegrass from simultaneous drought and heat stress. Crop Sci 44–1729

  • Westerman PR, Liebman M, Heggenstaller AH, Forcella F (2006) Integrating measurements of seed availability and removal to estimate weed seed losses due to predation. Weed Biol Managem 54:566–574

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JB, Peet RK, Dengler J, Pärtel M (2012) Plant species richness: the world records. J Veg Sci 23:796–802

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu GL, Liu ZH, Zhang L (2010) Effects of artificial grassland establishment on soil nutrients and carbon properties in a black-soil type degraded grassland. Pl Soil 333:469–479

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zucca C, Wu W, Dessena L, Mulas M (2015) Assessing the effectiveness of land restoration interventions in dry lands by multitemporal remote sensing – a case study in Ouled DLIM (Marrakech, Morocco). Land Degrad Developm 26:80–91

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Sincere thanks are due to the Editors-in-Chief Petr Dostál and Petr Koutecký. Special thanks go to the two anonymous reviewers for critically reading earlier drafts of this manuscript and suggesting substantial improvements. Lastly we wish to extend our thanks also to the members of the Laboratory of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Arid land of Tunisia for all their support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Arid land of Tunisia (LEBIOMAT), Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia

    Marwa Hamdani, Khouloud Krichen & Mohamed Chaieb

Authors
  1. Marwa Hamdani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Khouloud Krichen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohamed Chaieb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization: Mohamed Chaieb; methodology: Hamdani Marwa; formal analysis and investigation: Hamdani Marwa, Krichen Khouloud; original draft preparation: Hamdani Marwa; review and editing: Hamdani Marwa, Krichen Khouloud; supervision: Chaieb Mohamed; project administration: Chaieb Mohamed; validation and visualization: Chaieb Mohamed.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed Chaieb.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

All the authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hamdani, M., Krichen, K. & Chaieb, M. Priming effects on seed germination and seedling vigour in two perennial grasses targeted for degraded arid ecosystem restoration. Folia Geobot 57, 181–200 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-022-09417-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-022-09417-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation