Seed germination protocols for EU Habitats Directive species from northern Italy

Germination protocols were developed or optimized for six northern-Italian species protected in Annexes II and IV of the European Union Habitats Directive: Linaria tonzigii, Physoplexis comosa, Primula glaucescens, P. spectabilis, Saxifraga tombeanensis and Spiranthes aestivalis. For some species (L. tonzigii, P. glaucescens), seeds collected in 2004 and stored at -18◦C were compared with seeds collected 15 years later, and no statistically significant difference was found for final germination percentage (G), suggesting that seed banking is effective. P. spectabilis germinated at a high rate of G = 95.4%. Spiranthes aestivalis germinated extremely rapidly for an orchid, starting at just 11d (MTG = 17d), with extremely high rates (G = 97.1%).