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Effects of Light Intensity and Ground Cover on Seedling Regeneration of Tetracentron sinense Oliv.

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Abstract

We aimed to explore the factors affecting seedling regeneration in Tetracentron sinense by investigating the effects of light intensity and ground cover on seedling regeneration of T. sinense through controlled seeding experiments under simulated natural environmental conditions. Three levels of light intensity (equivalent to 100%, 50% and 10% of the natural light intensity, respectively) and three ground cover levels (without shrub-grass and litter, with only shrub-grass and with shrub-grass and litter) were controlled in the experiments to investigate seed germination, seeding survival and initial growth of T. sinense. The effect of different seedbeds and the interaction between light intensity and seedbed on germination was significant. Under the interaction between intensity and seedbed, the maximum germination rate of T. sinense seeds was found in seedbeds without ground cover under moderate light intensity. With the increase in seedling age, the survival rate of seedlings in each treatment decreased gradually. The survival curves in each treatment group showed a downward trend overall, the cumulative survival rate showed a monotonous downward trend, and cumulative mortality showed an upward trend. With the increase in seedling age, the maximum increase range of height, main root length, and total biomass appeared in the seedbed with shrub-grass and litter or with only shrub-grass under 50% light intensity. The results showed that T. sinense requires moderate light conditions for germination, which is negatively affected by extremely strong or weak light intensity. Additionally, litter and shrub-grass on the ground hinders seed germination. During seedling establishment, moderate shade is good for seedling survival and initial growth.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Applied Basic Research Project of Sichuan Province, China (No. 2017JY0164), the Special Fund for the fourth General Survey of Chinese Medicine Resources in China (No. 2018PC001), Meritocracy Research Funds of China West Normal University (No. 17YC325) and the Fundamental Research Funds of China West Normal University (No. 18B026).

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Author notes

  1. Xueheng Lu, Ning Xu have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, China

    Xueheng Lu, Ning Xu, Yang Chen, Yang Li & Xiaohong Gan

  2. Institute of Plant Adaptation and Utilization in Southwest Mountain, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, China

    Xueheng Lu, Ning Xu, Yang Chen, Yang Li & Xiaohong Gan

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  1. Xueheng Lu
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  2. Ning Xu
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  3. Yang Chen
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  4. Yang Li
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  5. Xiaohong Gan
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Contributions

XL and NX performed the experiment and statistical analysis; YC conceived the project, designed the experiments, and performed the experiment partly; YL performed the statistical analysis partly. XG performed the experiment. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xiaohong Gan.

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Lu, X., Xu, N., Chen, Y. et al. Effects of Light Intensity and Ground Cover on Seedling Regeneration of Tetracentron sinense Oliv.. J Plant Growth Regul 40, 736–748 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10137-w

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