Temperature as a main factor determining germination in Argentinean dry Chaco species

Temperature is a main factor determining germination in Chaco woodland species. Plant species composition is the result of processes that operate at different spatial and temporal scales. Species that coexist in a community are affected by environmental factors that influence the periods of the year when seed germination and seedling emergence occur, thus maximising establishment and survival. In this study we investigated the effects of temperature and light on seed germination of a wide range of plant species common in the Chaco woodlands of central Argentina. Twenty five species of angiosperms were selected, covering a wide range of life forms. Experimental treatments were three temperature regimes (15/5 °C, 25/15 °C and 35/20 °C) in light (12/12 h daily photoperiod) and in continuous darkness. Temperature was the main factor triggering the germination and most species were indifferent to light. Our results support the idea that seed germination is associated with the highly seasonal nature of rainfall in this region.