Effect of thermal shock and ruminal incubation on seed germination in Helianthemum apenninum L. Mill (Cistaceae)

Effect of thermal shock and ruminal incubation on seed germination in Helianthemum apenninum (L.) Mill. (Cistaceae). Here, we analyse the effect of different treatments on seed germination in Helianthemum apenninum (L.) Mill. (Cistaceae), considering scarification with sandpaper, thermal shock simulating the heat from fire, and incubation in the rumen of sheep and goat simulating passage through the gut of ruminants. Mechanical scarification boosted the germination (95% vs. 6% of control treatment), indicating that the seeds have a potentially high germination rate if the coat is eroded. Thermal shock did not improve germination. Incubation in rumen increased seed germination, up to a 32% after 48h in ruminal liquid versus 12% for control seeds in the case of sheep. The results suggest that germination in H. apenninum, while not enhanced by heat from fires, may be enhanced by herbivore ingestion.