Seed Germination, Seedling Growth, And Habitat Preference Of Shorea Wantianshuea And Pometia Tomentosa In Tropical Seasonal Rain Forests, Xishuangbanna, SW China

Understanding the biological characteristics of seed germination and seedling growth of S. wantianshuea and P. tomentosa, dominating in Xishuangbanna tropical seasonal rain forest, is of critical importance in protecting these two rare and endangered species. In order to supply scientific foundation to the protection of these two tree species, this study focused on some issues as follows: the seed sensitivity of these two tree species to desiccation and the relationship between seed viability and seed MC; the effects of different gradients of temperature and irradiance on seed germination and the responses of seed viability to the storage under relative low temperatures; the effects of different gradients of irradiance in shade house and forest habitat on the seed germination and the growth and survival of seedlings and the effects of herbivory in different gradients of irradiance in forest habitat on the growth and survival of seedlings. The results showed that:1) The seeds of both S. wantianshuea and P. tomentosa were highly recalcitrant in nature. Mature seeds of these two sepcies contained high MC (about 100.1% and 61.0% respectively, dry mass basis) and the seeds of these two species could germinate promptly after shedding on the shade and moist forest floor and achieved high GP. When seeds were desiccated and the seed MC decreased to about 81 ~ 74% for seeds...