Seed germination requirements of Carex wahuensis C.A. Mey. subsp. wahuensis (Cyperaceae), an endemic Hawaiian sedge
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2024
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Oahu Sedge (Carex wahuensis C.A. Mey. subsp. wahuensis) is a perennial sedge endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Found on all the main islands, this sedge grows in a wide range of habitats from coastal low elevations, dry forests, to mid-elevation mesic forests. Utilized in both the urban landscape and in forest restoration efforts, this plant can serve as a drought tolerant ground cover, accent planting, and as a form of erosion control. Oahu sedge is primarily propagated from seeds. However, it possesses physiological dormancy and can take up to 8 months to germinate, with germination occurring all at a single time. While research on temperate Carex species with physiological dormancy (PD) support the use of stratification or dry storage (after-ripening) to improve germination, similar studies on tropical species of Carex have not currently been done. The two main objectives of this thesis were to: 1) evaluate the effect of warm stratification with short-term cold exposure on Oahu sedge seed germination and 2) examine the effect of dry storage (after-ripening) on Oahu sedge seed germination and viability. Results indicated that short-term cold exposure (8°C for 3 days) at 2, 4 and 5 months of warm stratification (25°C average ambient) significantly improved germination of seeds. After-ripening had little to no effect on germination, but it led to a decline in seed viability over time in both collection sites regardless of storage RH and storage temperature conditions. These findings suggest that C. wahuensis subsp. wahuensis seeds need to be used immediately after harvesting and frequent recollection is needed for seed banking and conservation.
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Horticulture
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68 pages
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