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" The sociology, taxonomy and ecology of the passifloras and factors influencing the long-term storage and germination of their seed "
Vanderplank, R. J. R.
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Latin Dissertation
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894680
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TLets808924
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Open University
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| Title & Author
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The sociology, taxonomy and ecology of the passifloras and factors influencing the long-term storage and germination of their seed\ Vanderplank, R. J. R.
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Open University
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| Date
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2004
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Thesis (Ph.D.)
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2004
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| Abstract
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The longevity and long-term storage of <i>Passiflora</i> seed are investigated. Dehydrated seed were stored at temperatures from 30°C to -196°C for periods of up to five and a half years. It was determined that seed from most species should be treated as semiorthodox for seed storage purposes, but seed from species in the section <i>Quadrangularis</i> should be treated as semi-recalcitrant. High temperatures during fruit maturation of <i>P. subpeltata</i> were shown to induce seed coat-imposed dormancy. The presence of seed coat-imposed dormancy was confirmed in seed of two other <i>Passiflora</i> species. Prolonged periods of seed washing in tepid water were shown to be successful in breaking seed coat-imposed dormancy. Factors influencing the successful germination of quiescent <i>Passiflora</i> seed were investigated. The seed coat morphology of <i>Passiflora</i> species produced by interspecific hybridisation was found to be in keeping with the variations found in seed produced by intra-specific hybridisation. The seed coat morphology of <i>Passiflora</i> cultivars was found to be an intermediary of the seed coat morphology of their parents. A new classification of the genus <i>Passiflora</i> using only the morphological features of their seed is presented using seed from 360 accessions. The results of this study support the karyotypic evidence of <i>x</i> = 6 and <i>x</i> = 9 and otherwise shadow the conventional taxonomic classification of <i>Passiflora</i>, with the exception of species in the subgenus <i>Astrophea</i> and sections <i>Quadrangularis, Serratifolia, Passiflora</i>, and <i>Tiliifolia</i> in the subgenus <i>Passiflora</i>. The seed coat morphology of <i>Passiflora</i> species is compared with that of <i>Adenia</i> species and the probability of parallel evolution of <i>Passiflora</i> from several ancient archetypal <i>Adenia</i> species is proposed. Aspects of the sociology and ecology of <i>Passiflora</i> species are presented. Evidence of insect and plant mimicry is demonstrated. Detailed descriptions of new <i>Passiflora</i> species and subspecies are presented.
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Open University
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