title: Temperature dependence of seedling establishment of a perennial, Dioscorea tokoro.
abstract: The temperature dependence of seed germination and seedling growth was analyzed in Dioscorea tokoro, an East Asian summer-green perennial. Seeds were able to germinate fully only at 11-20 degrees C. At around 17-20 degrees C the first leaf petiole of the seedling elongated and quickly set the first leaf blade at a position enabling photosynthesis. At temperatures higher than 20 degrees C petiole elongation was retarded, and seedlings formed a rhizome and established as a perennial. The rhizome size increased with temperature up to 29 degrees C. Thus, during growth immediately after germination, temperature appears to be a key factor in determining whether the plant establishes as a perennial or grows rapidly without rhizome thickening.
authors.affiliation: Agrometeorology Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Eisho
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okagami