Qualität und Keinfähigkeit von Saatgut des Baumwacholders (Juniperus excelsa M.-Bieb.) aus dem Kalamoun-Gebirge in Syrien

Weihenstephan

2003

16 Lit. Ang.

Artikel aus einer Zeitschrift

200107052

J. excelsa is the main tree species of forest stands in the upper elevations of the Kalamoun mountains in Syria. In this peliminary experiment seeds of juniper from four stands in different elevations (1900, 2100, 2200, 2250 m) were subjected to two pre-treatments with different duration period: a three-months with 45 days warm followed by 45 days cold stratification and a six-months with 90 days warm followed by 90 days cold stratification. In comparison to the other three stands, the stand in 2100 above see level had more vigorous trees from which the seeds were collected. After stratification, seed samples were subjected to standard germination test according to ISTA regulations. Juniper seeds originating from the Kalamoun mountains showed with 92.5 % a high percentage of empty seeds. The better quality of seeds with less empty seeds (87 %) were found in the stand including the more vigorous juniper trees in 2100 m above see level. Germination of seeds was significantly dependant on the duration period of the warm and cold stratification. The six-months pre-treatment with 90 days cold followed by 90 days warm stratification led to germination of all sound viable-seeds. Germinated seeds yielded of the shorter stratification period was only 17 %. The results indicated that there is a real lack of knowledge about the reproductive biology and activity of the Kalamoun populations of J. excelsa.