Does fire induce shrub germination in the Chilean matorral? [brush, bushes, woody plants]

We tested the hypothesis that fire enhances the germination of shrubs of the Chilean evergreen shrublands (matorral), as shown for other areas with Mediterranean-type climates. We did laboratory tests in which we heated seeds for 5 min to 100°C. These results suggest enhancement of germination. However, field measurements and experiments indicated that at depths where the seed bank is located temperatures are high enough to kill all seedlings and there are no places where temperatures are comparable to those usually used in laboratory to verify germination enhancement by high temperatures. These results are discussed in the perspective of selective pressure of fires for the induction of germination in the Chilean matorral species.