The coupled effect of light and temperature on dormancy release and germination of Pinus koraiensis seeds

Elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of environmental factors on seed dormancy and germination will provide guidance for tree regeneration.Toward understanding the coupled effect of light and temperature on dormancy release and germination of Pinus koraiensis seeds,we set up three light conditions(L200:200μmol m^(-2) s^(-1),L20:20μmol m^(-2) s^(-1),L0:0μm^(-2) s^(-1))and four storage temperatures[T-5:-5°C(50 days),T5:-5°C(50 days)+5°C(50 days),T25:-5°C(50 days)+5°C(50 days)+25°C(50 days),T15:-5°C(50 days)+5°C(50 days)+25°C(50 days)+15°C(50 days)]using imbibed seeds,then quantified phytohormones gibberellic acid(GA_(3))and abscisic acid(ABA)during the stratification.Germination percentage(G_(P)),mean germination time(T_(M)),and germination value(G_(V))under 25/15°C temperature and the three light conditions were then determined.Phytohormone levels and germination performances were significantly affected by light and temperature.No consistent trend was found between the phytohormone levels and G_(P) caused by light levels.Under the three light conditions,ABA concentrations in the embryo and endosperm decreased as storage temperature shifted from T-5 to T25 and increased from T25 to T15;GA_(3) decreased in nearly all four storage temperatures.G_(P) reached 40–60%in T25 storage without light irradiance.In the three light conditions,G_(P) and G_(V) were higher at T5 and T25 than at T-5 and T15;so T5 and T25 are considered as optimum storage temperatures for dormancy release and germination.At optimum temperatures,light(L200,L20)significantly increased the G_(P) and G_(V) compared with the dark(L0).At L200 and L20,significant negative correlations between G_(V) and the ABA concentrations and positive correlations between G_(V) and GA/ABA in the seed embryo were found.Temperature played a more important role in primary dormancy release and germination;light was unnecessary for primary dormancy release.Light facilitated seed germination at optimum temperatures.The dormancy release and germination of P.koraiensis seeds were controlled by a decrease in ABA concentrations or an increase in GA/ABA induced by temperature variations.