Trace gas emissions and smoke-induced germination

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Abstract

Dormant seeds of a California chaparral annual were induced to germinate by smoke or vapors emitted from smoke-treated sand or paper. Nitrogen oxides induced 100 percent germination in a manner similar to smoke. Smoke-treated water samples inducing germination were comparable in acidity and concentration of nitrate and nitrite to nitrogen dioxide (NO2)–treated samples. Vapors from smoke-treated and NO2-treated filter paper had comparable NO2flux rates. Chaparral wildfires generate sufficient nitrogen oxides from combustion of organic matter or from postfire biogenic nitrification to trigger germination of Emmenanthe penduliflora. Nitrogen oxide–triggered germination is not the result of changes in imbibition, as is the case with heat-stimulated seeds.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Trace gas emissions and smoke-induced germination
Series title Science
DOI 10.1126/science.276.5316.1248
Volume 276
Issue 5316
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science
Contributing office(s) Western Ecological Research Center
Description 3 p.
First page 1248
Last page 1250
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