PERICARP DELAYS GERMINATION IN QUERCUS GLAUCA SEEDS

Abstract

Seed germination and water uptake in Quercus glauca were studied in intact, scarified (pericarp ruptured at distal end) and peeled (pericarp completely removed) acorns. Removal of pericarp resulted in an early and high percentage of germination (92%), but scarification led to only partial improvement of germination (22%). The possibilities of pericarp's involvement in delayed germination indicated that pericarp presumably interfered in water uptake by the seed not through disallowing water entry into the seed, but through imposing a mechanical restraint to cotyledon expansion resulting in arrested imbibition and delayed germination.