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International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064

Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438

Volume 4 Issue 4, April 2015

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Germination Variability in Different Populations of

Cork Oak (Quercus suber L.) in Tunisia

ABDESSAMAD. Abdessalem1, 2

, KSONTINI. Mustapha1, et SALHI HANNACHI Amel

2

1Laboratory of Physiology and Ecology Forestry, National Institute for Research in Rural Engineering & Forestry INRGREF Tunis, Tunisia

2Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Immunology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, 2092 El Manar Tunis, Tunisia

Abstract: The cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is a Mediterranean species, having great ecological and socioeconomic importance. In

Tunisia this species occupies considerable areas including Kroumirie Mogods. Germination is a phenomenon that leads to the inert seed

to a plantlet can emit its first leaves. It has various modes of expression. In the present work we have undertaken a study of germination

performed semi-controlled conditions (nursery) of INRGREF (Tunis) different populations of cork oak in Tunisia: El Feidja

(GHARDIMAOU), Beni M'ttir, Hammam Bourguiba, Dar Fatma, Oued Zena and Mejen Essef (Ain Draham), Ain Zana (Bouselm)

Jebel Zouza (Nefza) Keff El Rand (Haouria), Steam Jdidi (Hammamet) and Jebel Kroufa and Bellif (Tabarka) located Kroumirie

Mogods and Cap Bon. Our results showed that the maximum germination rate is very high (98-100%), respectively, for the people of

Jebel Kroufa, Oued Ezzen, Keff El rand, Blessed Mtir and Hammam Bourguiba, Jebel Zouza and Mejen Essef of lesser degree for the

people of El Feidja (95.83%) and Ain Zena (90.27%) by cons it is lower for the population of Bellif, Dar Fatma (86.41%) and Hammam

Jdidi (72.83%). The lag phases recorded are of the order of 42 days, respectively, for the population of Dar Fatma, Hammam

Bourguiba, Jebel Kroufa, Steam Jdidi, Ain Zena and Mejen Essef, 49 days for the people of Jebel Zouza 56 days for public of Bellif,

Blessed Mtir and Keff El rand, 63 days for the people of Oued Ezzen and about 70 days for the people of El Feidja. The difference in

germination between populations can be attributed to ecological and climatic conditions of the original site and / or specific biological

conditions of the case study.

Keywords: Germination, population, cork oak, variability, Tunisia

1. Introduction

Forests, although they cover only one tenth of the surface

of the planet, representing almost 90% of all biomass

dominated by trees such as oaks and account for nearly

half of the primary production biosphere [4]. The global

distribution of these forests obeys great ecological

gradients among current major explanatory factors, the

temperature and water data provide a couple of prime

importance, as well as genetic data that identify the

variation between and within species population. The

study of the germination of this species for assessing

populations and help conservation by providing better

production quantitatively and qualitatively.

This is a first step in identifying the existence of the

strongest sources and newer that seem best suited to the

environment in Tunisia and help the conservation of the

forest genetic heritage: the optimization of conduct

cultivation of a variety of interest and selection of

genotypes having outstanding characteristics. In this

context a comparative study of germination of twelve

populations of cork oak El Feidja (GHARDIMAOU),

Beni M'ttir, Hammam Bourguiba, Dar Fatma, Oued Zena

and Mejen Essef (Ain Draham), Ain Zana (Bouselm)

Jebel Zouza (Nefza) Keff El Rand (Haouria), Steam Jdidi

(Hammamet) and Jebel Kroufa and Bellif (Tabarka) the

purpose of identifying the within population of cork oak.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1 Site Collection Seed

The cork oak acorns L were collected from different

locations in Kroumirie, Mogods and Cap Bon in Tunisia

(72 individuals from each populations of Hammam

Bourguiba [HB], Dar Fatma [DF], Oued Zeen [OZ], Aîn

Zana [AZ]; Mejen Essef [ME]; Béni Mtir [BM]; Djebel

Zouza [DZ] (Ain Draham) El Feidja [EF] (Gar Dimaou);

Bellif [B] (Nefza); Djebel Khroufa [DK] (Tabarka); Keff

El Rand [KR] (El Haouaria) and Hammam Jdidi [HJ]

(Hammamet) (Tab 2 and Tab 3). The choice of the sites

was carried out according to the geographical distribution,

the bioclimat and the relief in December 2011(Table.1).

2.2 Germination Experiments

In semi-controlled conditions in the nursery INRGREF

Ariana under semi arid bioclimate higher. The acorns are

sown in polythene bags of 12 cm diameter and 20 cm deep

filled with a substrate (mixture containing 1/3 2/3 sand

and humus cork oak) and whose composition

physicochemical is given by (Table.1).

Seeds were considered to be germinated when the radical

emergence. After seed sowing, the germinated seeds were

counted and eliminated every week for 140 days.

Table 1 : Soil texture culture

clay (en%) 10% pH 7.5 coarse sand 48%

fine silt 3% total limestone 2% total nitrogen 560 ppm

coarse silt 5% P2O5 15 ppm organic matter 1.8%

sandy 32% K2O 70 ppm

Paper ID: SUB151595 1497

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2.3 Methods of Germination Expression

The characteristics of seedling emergence were (FG),

number determined: final germination percentage of days

to first germination (delay of germination), critical limits

of germination and mean time to germinate (MTG). (i)

Final germination percentage (FG) was calculated as the

cumulative number of germinated seeds with normal

radicles.

GP = Σ𝑛, where 𝑛 is the number of seeds that had

germinated at each counting. (ii) Mean Time of

germination: MTG was estimated according to the

formula:

MTG = Σ (n. 𝑑𝑖)

where 𝑛 is the number of seeds germinated at day 𝑖,𝑑 the

incubation period in days, and 𝑁 the total number of

germinated seeds in the treatment.

2.4 Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis

of variance (ANOVA and DUNCAN) to test the

variability of germination characteristics for different

populations. All statistical methods were performed using

SPSS, version 17.

3. Results

3.1 Germination rate

The maximum germination rate are recorded in the order

of 100%; 100%; 100%; 100%; 100%; 98.77%; 98.61%;

95.83%; 90.28; 86.42%; 86.42% and 72.84% respectively

for the population of Beni Mtir, Hammam Bourguiba,

Jebel Kroufa, Oued Ezzen, Keff El rand, Jebel Zouza,

Mejen Essef El Feidja, Ain Zana Bellif, Dar Fatma and

Hammam after Jdidi 140 days (Fig.1)

3.2 Speed germination

The lag phases are recorded in the order of 42, 42, 42, 42,

42, 42, 49, 56, 56, 56, 63 and 70 days respectively for the

people of Dar Fatma, Hammam Bourguiba, Jebel Kroufa,

Steam Jdidi, Zena and Mejen Essef Ain, Jebel Zouza,

Bellif, Blessed Mtir and Keff rand El Oued and El Ezzen

Feidja

3.3 Germination capacity

The germination capacity are recorded in the order of

100%; 100%; 100%; 100%; 100%; 98.77%; 98.61%;

95.83%; 90.28; 86.42%; 86.42% and 72.84% respectively

for the population of Beni Mtir, Hammam Bourguiba,

Jebel Kroufa, Oued Ezzen, Keff El rand, Jebel Zouza,

Mejen Essef El Feidja, Ain Zana Bellif, Dar Fatma and

Hammam after Jdidi 140 days (Fig.2).

3.4 Mean Germination Time (MTG)

Mean Germination Time are recorded in the order of 1.14;

1.11; 1.07; 1.07; 1.05; 1.04; 1.03; 1.03; 1.00; 1.00; 0.89

and 0.89 days respectively for populations Bellif;

Hammam Jdidi; Oued Ezzen; Mtir blessed; Jebel Zouza;

Keff El rand; Dar Fatma; Hammam Bourguiba; Jebel

Kroufa; El Feidja; Mejen Essef and Ain Zana (Fig.3).

3.5 Coefficient velocity

The coefficients of velocity are stored in the order of

99.09%; 96.92%; 96.82%; 96.13%; 95.23%; 93.86%;

90.62%; 88.62%; 88.47%; 88.17%; 83.05% and 78.81%

respectively for the people of Jebel Kroufa; Hammam

Bourguiba; Dar Fatma; Keff El rand; Jebel Zouza; Mtir

blessed; Hammam Jdidi; Mejen Essef; Ain Zana; Bellif;

El Oued and Ezzen Feidja (Fig.4).

3.6. Energy germination

The germination energy are stored in the order of 98.77%;

98.77%; 98.61%; 97.53%; 97.22%; 96.30%; 93.06%;

87.50%; 85.19%; 83.95%; 71.60% and 71.60%

respectively for the population of Hammam Bourguiba;

Jebel Kroufa; Oued Ezzen; Jebel Zouza; Mejen Essef;

Mtir blessed; El Feidja; Ain Zana; Keff El rand; Dar

Fatma; Bellif and Hammam Jdidi. (Fig.5).


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Table 2: Characteristics geographical, bioclimatic and relief of different populations of oak cork (Quercus suber L) in Tunisia

Site Abbreviation Area Geographical

distribution

Bioclimat (bioclimatic

stage) Relief

Altitude

(m)

Characteristics

Geographical

4. Discussion

Germination is often seen as a phenomenon that leads

from inert seed to a seedling capable of transmitting its

first leaves. This presents various modes of expression.

Germination rates observed over a period of 140 days

were manifested in three phases: first a latency period of

70 days for the people of El Feidja; 63 days for the Oued

Ezzen population; 56 days for the people of Bellif,

Blessed Mtir and Keff El rand; 49 days for the people of

Jebel Zouza and 42 days for the people of Dar Fatma,

Hammam Bourguiba, Jebel Kroufa, Steam Jdidi, Ain

Mejen Essef Zena and then a second acceleration of

germination phase (ranges from 56-126 days in the

population of Bellif; 42-112 days with the population of

Dar Fatma, 49-91 days for the people of Jebel Zouza; 56-

91 days in the population of Beni Mtir; 42-105 days with

El Feidja EF Ghardimaou Western North

(Kroumirie)

Wet superior at moderate

winter Montagne

780

m

32 43 84

22 E

40 40 26 7

N

Beni M'ttir BM Ain Drahem Western North

(Kroumirie)


winter Montagne

800

m

32 47 48

36 E

40 65 89 8

N

Hammam

Bourguiba HB Ain Drahem

Western North

(Kroumirie)


winter Montagne

570

m

32 46 76

08

40 71 96 0

N

Dar Fatma DF Ain Drahem Western North

(Kroumirie)


winter Montagne

909

m

32 47 84

09 E

40 73 59 6

N

Oued Zena OZ Ain Drahem Western North

(Kroumirie)


winter Montagne

675

m

32 48 22

49

40 75 63 0

N

Mejen Essef ME Ain Drahem Western North

(Kroumirie)


winter Montagne

800

m

32 48 17

17 E

40 69 20 4

Aîn Zana AZ Bouselm Western North

(Kroumirie)


winter Montagne

851

m

32 48 77

03 E

40 64 69 4

N

Djebel Zouza DjZ Nefza Western North

(Kroumirie)


winter Montagne

542

m

32 49 96

49 E

40 77 41 2

N

Keff El Rand KR Haouaria North Est (Cap Bon) Sub-wet superior at hot

winter Montagne

642

m

32 65 77

63 E

40 77 15 8

N

Hammam Jdidi HJ Hammamet North Est

(Cap Bon)

Semi-arid lower than hot

winter Montagne

174

m

32 62 08

79 E

40 35 84 9

N

Djebel Khroufa DjK Tabarka Western North

(Mogods) Wet inferior at hot winter

Chaine

tellienne

160

m

32 49 41

25 E

40 90 49 5

N

Bellif B Tabarka Western North

(Mogods) Wet inferior at hot winter

Chaine

tellienne 88 m

32 50 79

87 E

40 98 60 9

N


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the population of Hammam Bourguiba, 70 to 105 days for

the people of El Feidja; 42-98 days for the people of Jebel

Kroufa; 63-84 days for the people of Oued Ezzen; 56-84

days for the people of El Keff rand, and 42 through 119

days among the population of Hammam Jdidi; 42-98 days

for the people of Ain Zana and 42-112 days in the

population of Mejen Essef) and a third phase

characterized by a plateau indicating the maximum rate of

germination (from 126 days in the population of Bellif;

112 days in the population of Dar Fatma; 91 days among

the people of Jebel Zouza; 91 days in the population of

Beni Mtir; 105 days in the population of Hammam

Bourguiba; 105 days in the population of El Feidja; 98

days among the people of Jebel Kroufa; 84 days in the

population of Oued Ezzen; 84 days in the population of El

Keff rand; 119 days in the population of Hammam Jdidi;

98 days among the people of Ain Zana and 112 days in

the population of Mejen Essef).

The last phase is relatively large for all populations of

cork oak with a more or less for the people of El Feidja

(70j) compared to that of the population of Wadi Ezzen

(63j) and populations Bellif, Blessed Mtir and Keff El

rand (56j), the population of Jebel Zouza (49J) and

populations of Dar Fatma, Hammam Bourguiba, Jebel

Kroufa, Steam Jdidi, Ain Zena and Mejen Essef (42j).

This can be explained by the time required for the seed to

put in place mechanisms that allow it to adjust its osmotic

potential with respect to the medium [8]; as well as its root

development. This scope is a limiting factor of

regeneration by planting cork oak especially when it is

unable to provide a balance between the nutritional needs

of other wildlife [3] environment.

Note also that there is a differential dormancy within the

same species from the same population or the same seed

lot of the same population of cork oak. Or even among

seeds from the same mother tree. The dormancy intensity

varies with latitude, population and harvest year. This has

the effect of dormancy stagger the germination over a

period of time or longer [6].

[5] also described the germination difficulty by the

existence of embryo dormancy due to the mechanical

action exerted by the pericarp to the output of the radical

and that depends on the shaft which is a producer of

characteristics physiological acorns mature and freshly

harvested. The slow germination is also recorded for [2]

for the holm oak [1] and olive [9].

Preney et al (1997) show that the germination rate

decreases with increasing shelf life because they reduce

the vitality of acorns.

Our results showed that the maximum germination rate

are recorded in the order of 100%; 100%; 100%; 100%;

100%; 98.77%; 98.61%; 95.83%; 90.28; 86.42%; 86.42%

and 72.84% respectively for the population of Beni Mtir,

Hammam Bourguiba, Jebel Kroufa, Oued Ezzen, Keff El

rand, Jebel Zouza, Mejen Essef El Feidja, Ain Zana Bellif,

Dar Fatma and Hammam after Jdidi 140 days. In the

nursery, the twelve populations of cork oak have high and

varied maximum rate of germination obtained after one to

two months of storage (42 days to 70 days). These results

are in agreement with that found by [7] on the species of

oak.

Germination appears to be also dependent on the size

factor acorns; our results showed the highest rate (96%)

for the species of oak afares length of about 4.09 cm in

diameter on the order of 1.72 cm. For zeen oak species, it

has the germination rate of 94.44%, it has at the same time

a length of 3.80 cm and 1.62 cm diameter. The population

of cork oak (82.40%) has tassels length of about 2.93 cm

and a diameter of about 1.56 cm. These results are

consistent with those found by [3] attributed the size of

acorns or their weight to a positive influence on the

germination and early growth stages (days); during this

period of life, the seedling uses the reserves of acorns and

more important are his best reserves will start germination

and growth. The difference in the size of acorns can be

attributed to environmental and climatic conditions of the

original site and the specific conditions of the study

species.

5. Conclusion

As a result of the present study, we can conclude that

traits related to germination of Quercus suber.L constitute

a useful approach to analyze the diversity in this important

species. This variability related to the germination rate,

speed germination, germination capacity, means

germination Time (MTG), coefficient velocity, energy

germination present the most discriminating value. A case

of homonymy was detected in cultivar originating from

Ain Drahem.

This study although revealed considerable variability in

germination among oak cork accessions, accurate oak

cork cultivars identification however, needs a large

number of morphological markers and the exploration of

other eco physiological, biochemical and molecular

markers such as sequencing at end to analyze genotypic

diversity.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants of the National

Institute of Research in Agricultural engineering, Water

and Drills (Institute Tunis Carthage), and the Faculty of

Sciences of Tunis (University Tunis El Manar).

This paper is dedicated to Professor Mokhtar Trifi,

Director of the molecular Laboratory of genetics,

immunology and biotechnology, and co-author of this

work, who passed away in September 2010. May God

bless his soul and dedicated.


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Figure 1: Germination rate based on time acorns from different populations of cork oak (Quercus suber. L) in Tunisia (semi-

controlled conditions)

Figure 2: Germination capacity acorns from different populations of cork oak (Quercus suber. L) in Tunisia (semi-controlled

conditions)


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Figure 3: Germination mean time (GMT) acorns from different populations of cork oak (Quercus suber. L) in Tunisia (semi-


Figure 4: Velocity coefficient (CV) acorns from different populations of cork oak (Quercus suber. L) in Tunisia (semi-



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Figure 5: Germination energy (EG) acorns from different populations of cork oak (Quercus suber. L) in Tunisia (semi-


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