Aims To determine if the germination response of desert plant species to a period of aerial storage in field conditions (i.e. mature seeds that remain attached to the parent plant) is comparable to seeds harvested at maturity and stored in ambient laboratory conditions, to better understand the role of aerial seed bank in the germination ecology of desert plants, using one annual and two perennial species. Methods Seeds of three desert plants (Anastatica hierochuntica, Blepharis...

The effects of maternal habitat on light and temperature requirements during germination were assessed for the succulent desert shrub Anabasis setifera. Seeds were collected from the Mediterranean habitats of Egypt and the hyper-arid subtropical habitats of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Seeds from the two populations were germinated in three temperature treatments in both a light/dark regime and continuous darkness. Seeds from the Egyptian population germinated significantly greater and faster than those of UAE. Seeds...

The present investigation emphasizes the significance and conservation values of an important medicinal plant Aerva javanica for sustainable utilization and urban landscaping in Arabian Desert. Seeds of A. javanica germinated well under laboratory as well as nursery conditions, indicating their little dormancy. Germination percentage was significantly higher under darkness as compared to light at lower temperature (15/25 °C). Despite the seeds attained highest germination percentage (81%) in the darkness at the low temperature, it was...