Seed germination and ex situ conservation of threatened Iris species in arid Central Asia

Abstract

Several Iris species (Iridaceae) of the arid zones of Central Asia are threatened by habitat loss and over-collection, yet the seed biology required for their conservation remains poorly documented. This study evaluated seed germination responses of three threatened Iris taxa under a range of temperature and pre-treatment regimes, with the aim of informing ex situ propagation and reintroduction programmes. Germination was strongly influenced by cold stratification and scarification, and marked interspecific differences in dormancy depth were observed. The findings provide practical protocols for seed-based propagation and underline the value of integrated in situ and ex situ strategies for conserving the rich geophyte flora of arid Central Asia.

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