Andrea Mondoni

University of Pavia | UNIPV · Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Seed longevity influences the success of ex situ storage and preservation of plant genetic diversity and is thus a critical factor in conservation efforts. Rapid seed ageing experiments at high temperature and high humidity have been widely used to classify seed longevity for hundreds of plant species, with potential implications for longevity in e...

Seed coating is commonly applied in agricultural seed industry to alleviate biotic and edaphic barriers and improve seed germination , seedling emergence and establishment. Recently, this seed enhancement technology has been tested and applied to seeds of native species for ecological restoration and conservation. This work presents a novel applica...

Plant invasions have a negative impact on biodiversity and lead to species loss. Although studies on traits promoting invasiveness have been largely developed, comparative studies on germination traits of closely related native versus alien invasive species, which also take into account threatened species, are lacking. We analysed the germination r...

Herbaria are an important source of data and material useful in many fields, including plant conservation. Seeds preserved in herbarium specimens may have the potential to germinate, although few studies focused on this topic. Here, the first systematic assessment of six techniques, including priming techniques and melatonin application, aimed at i...

Climate warming is occurring in high-mountain areas at a faster rate than the global average. To escape the increasing temperatures, alpine species may shift in distribution upwards, threatening cold-adapted nival plant specialists. However, little is known about the success of seedling emergence and establishment at high altitudes outside the curr...

Climate warming is occurring in high mountain areas faster than the global average, making cold-adapted alpine specialists vulnerable. Ex situ seed conservation is a solution, but little is known about how plants from stored seeds will cope with the altered climate. We grew plants from seeds of the artic-alpine specialist Viscaria alpina, collected...

The adaptability of seed metabolism to different environmental conditions represents a crucial aspect to understand the effects of climate change on plant populations in wild environments. Among the indicators of stress and repair in seeds, tocopherols and malondialdehyde have been related to membrane stability in seed deterioration. Alpine plants...

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of three vascular plants are presented according to IUCN categories and criteria. It includes the assessment of Oryza rhizomatis D.A.Vaughan and Saxifraga facchinii W.D.J.Koch at a global level and Helianthemum caput-felis Boiss. at a regional level.

Five species of wild Oryza (O. nivara, O. rufipogon, O. eichengeri, O. rhizomatis and O. granulata), including the endemic species O. rhizomatis, have been recorded in Sri Lanka. These species are facing continuous decline in their populations due to natural and anthropogenic processes, with habitat loss being the main threat. This study aimed to p...

Billions of seeds from wild species are currently stored in hundreds of conservation seed banks around the world. Plant translocation from these seeds is a key conservation priority and one of the targets of the UN's Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. How these seeds are used for plant translocation and what obstacles seed banks encounter has...

Resurrecting extinct species is a fascinating and challenging idea for scientists and the general public. Whereas some theoretical progress has been made for animals, the resurrection of extinct plants (de-extinction sensu lato) is a relatively recently discussed topic. In this context, the term ‘de-extinction’ is used sensu lato to refer to the re...

Climate warming in mountain areas is increasing faster than the global average, threatening alpine plants. Climate affects many traits including seeds, the longevity of which is important for conservation, facilitating genebank storage. Seeds of alpine species are considered short-lived in storage, but their longevity increases when produced under...

Herbarium specimens have been proposed to be valuable sources of viable diaspores (pollens, spores and seeds), which can provide native germplasm for recovering extinct plant species and their genetic variation lost. Diaspores taken from herbarium specimens or similar collections can remain viable for decades, and therefore may have potential for r...

Mesoscale heterogeneity of alpine landscapes generates snowmelt gradients resulting in a distinct vegetation zonation from almost snow-free fellfields to long-lasting snowbeds. Although the vegetative trait variation along such gradients has been intensively studied, little is known about whether and how seed germination is adapted to the variable...

In alpine landscapes, topographic roughness determines local environmental conditions. Within the same patch we can find extremely diverse microhabitats ranging from open areas subjeced to freeze-thaw cycles and dry periods (fellfields) to areas with a dense plant layer, lengthy snow cover and high moisture (snowbeds). Alpine microhabitats are expe...

The reasons why some species occur widespread, while related species have restricted geographical ranges have been attributed to habitat specialization or ecological niche breadth. For species in the genus Saxifraga, habitat specialization alone cannot explain the distributional differences observed. We hypothesize that recruitment traits (i.e., ge...

The reasons why some species occur widespread, while related species have restricted geographical ranges have been attributed to habitat specialization or ecological niche breadth. For species in the genus Saxifraga, habitat specialization alone cannot explain the distributional differences observed. We hypothesize that recruitment traits (i.e., ge...

Seed longevity is a complex trait that depends on numerous factors. It varies among species and populations, and within different seed morphs produced by the same plant. Little is known about variation in longevity in different seed morphs or the physiological and molecular basis of these differences. We evaluated the longevity and oxidative stress...

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we...

Alpine and arctic environments are predicted to be strongly influenced by climate change because their cold-adapted species may be sensitive to rapid warming. Genetic diversity, phenotypic plasticity and dispersal ability of seeds might be crucial for species to persist and/or migrate in these habitats. We reviewed the literature to synthetize curr...

Alpine and arctic environments are predicted to be strongly influenced by climate change because their cold-adapted species may be sensitive to rapid warming. Genetic diversity, phenotypic plasticity, and dispersal ability of seeds might be crucial for species to persist and/or migrate in these habitats. We reviewed the literature to synthetize cur...

Herbaria may represent remarkable sources of viable diaspores for recovering lost genetic variation and extinct plant species, but the application of rewilding extinct species using these collections has not been explored in detail. De-extinction in plants may be achieved by germinating viable diaspores or culturing tissues preserved in herbarium s...

Research in environmental science relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature at around 2 meter above ground1-3. These climatic grids however fail to reflect conditions near and below the soil surface, where critical ecosystem functions such as soil carbon storage are controlled and most biodiversity resides4-8...

Assumptions about the germination ecology of alpine plants are presently based on individual species and local studies. A current challenge is to synthesise, at the global level, the alpine seed ecological spectrum. We performed a meta‐analysis of primary data from laboratory experiments conducted across four continents (excluding the tropics) and...

Mountains and their biota are highly threatened by climate change. An important strategy that alpine plants use to escape this change consists in seed dispersal and the ability of seeds to germinate and establish in new sites at higher elevation. Little is known about the environmental factors that can affect the regeneration of plants above the el...

Knowledge of germination and propagation requirements are crucial for the use of plant genetic resources. Here, we compare different treatments to improve the germination of Bunias erucago (Cruciferae), a Mediterranean vegetable herb of growing commercial interest. Its cultivation is limited by the poor germination shown by the seeds which are encl...

From 50 to 90% of wild plant species worldwide produce seeds that are dormant upon maturity, with specific dormancy traits driven by species’ occurrence geography, growth form, and genetic factors. While dormancy is a beneficial adaptation for intact natural systems, it can limit plant recruitment in restoration scenarios because seeds may take sev...

Seed germination is a critical parameter for the successful development of sustainable agricultural practices. However, it can be impaired by environmental constraints emerging from climate change. Seed priming is used to improve germination by managing a series of parameters during the initial stages of the process. During priming, seeds are advan...

Crop wild relatives are fundamental genetic resources for crop improvement. Wheat wild relatives often produce heteromorphic seeds that differ in morphological and physiological traits. Several Aegilops and Triticum species possess, within the same spikelet, a dimorphic seed pair, with one seed being larger than the other. A comprehensive analysis...

The alarming current and predicted species extinction rates have galvanized conservationists in their efforts to avoid future biodiversity losses, but for species extinct in the wild, few options exist. We posed the questions, can these species be restored, and, if so, what role can ex situ plant collections (i.e., botanic gardens, germplasm banks,...

The Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park (PNDB), was founded in 1993 and belongs to Nature 2000 as SAC (WDPA ID 6181). One of the main scientific reasons leading to the birth of the Park was the great richness and rareness of its flora. Besides the alpine, boreal and temperate - Eurasian species, there are also many species gravitating around the easte...

This Handbook is a product of the NAtive Seed Science, TEchnology and Conservation (NASSTEC) Initial Training Network which was part of the EU FP7 People-Work Programme. NASSTEC has taken a systems-based approach to the restoration of degraded environments based on the use of native species in environmental mitigation and adaptation strategies to...

Questions What is the functional trait variation of European temperate grasslands and how does this reflect global patterns of plant form and function? Do habitat specialists show trait differentiation across habitat types? Location Europe. Methods We compiled 18 regeneration and non‐regeneration traits for a continental species pool consisting o...

Kosteletzkya pentacarpos is important for the restoration of coastal habitats in Asia and is vulnerable in Europe. Physical dormancy (PY) prevents ready seed germination and seedling production for restoration and conservation purposes. In this study, seed germination and seedling growth of K. pentacarpos were investigated in response to scarificat...

Seed viability and germination are central topics for Seed Science and Technology , especially regarding useful and/or threatened plants, such as medicinal and crop species. Both seed viability and germination may be affected by various factors, including phytopathogens, environmental conditions and age of the seeds. Therefore, on one hand there is...

Italy is among the European countries with the greatest plant diversity due to both a great environmental heterogeneity and a long history of man-environment interactions. Trait-based approaches to ecological studies have developed greatly over recent decades worldwide, although several issues concerning the relationships between plant functional t...

The genus Aegilops belongs to the secondary gene pool of wheat and has great importance for wheat cultivar improvement. As a genus with only annual species, regeneration from seeds in Aegilops is crucial. In several species in Aegilops, spikes produce different seed morphs, both in size and germination patterns. However, little is known about the e...

Functional plant traits are used in ecology to explain population dynamics in time and space. However, because the germination niche is an essential stage in alpine plant life cycles and is under strong environmental pressure, we hypothesised that inter-specific variability in germination traits might contribute to alpine plant distributions. Germi...

Understanding the key aspects of plant regeneration from seeds is crucial in assessing species assembly to their habitats. However, the regenerative traits of seed dormancy and germination are underrepresented in this context. In the alpine zone, the large species and microhabitat diversity provide an ideal context to assess habitat-related regener...

Citrullus lanatus cultivation is affected by drought stress. Citrullus species that grow wild and domesticated in arid areas, are considered potential useful donors of drought tolerance traits. Here, we evaluated the response of seed germination, seedling establishment and growth to different water availabilities in eleven landraces of C. amarus, f...

Despite the strong environmental control of seed dormancy and longevity, their changes along latitudes are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess seed dormancy and longevity in different populations across the distribution of the arctic–alpine plant Silene suecica. Seeds of seven populations collected from alpine (Spain, Italy, Scot...

The genus Aegilops L. had a great role in wheat domestication and evolution and needs to be conserved, in order to preserve wheat wild relatives genetic resources for crop improvement (1, 2, 3). Some Aegilops species produce dimorphic pairs of seeds, within dispersal unit, different both in size and in colour (one seed is bigger and lighter-coloure...

Alien grape (Vitis, Vitaceae) species and recently described hybrids are recognised as major environmental weeds in southern Europe, based on their tendency to spread into natural and semi-natural habitats, often behaving as invasive species. Despite a high number of agronomic, genetic and phytopathological studies on Vitis cultivars, regeneration...

Safeguarding plants as seeds in ex situ collections is a cost effective element in an integrated plant conservation approach. The European Alps are a regional centre of plant diversity. Six institutions have established a regional network covering the European Alps which will conserve at least 500 priority plant species and which will improve the c...

Crop Wild Relatives are often used to improve crop quality and yields because they contain genetically important traits that can contribute to stress resistance and adaptation. Seed germination of different populations of Aegilops geniculata Roth collected along a latitudinal gradient was studied under different drought stress in order to find popu...

In this study, the impact of gamma (γ) radiation on seeds was investigated in four native alpine species, Campanula barbata L., Cirsium spinosissinum (L.) Scop., Plantago alpina L., and Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke. Seeds were γ-irradiated with 100 and 200 Gy total doses delivered at a dose rate of 2.7 Gy min⁻¹. Irradiated and non-irradiated see...

Background and Aims. Climate warming has major impacts on seed germination of several alpine species, hence on their regeneration capacity. Most studies have investigated the effects of warming after seed dispersal, and little is known about the effects a warmer parental environment may have on germination and dormancy of the seed progeny. Neverthe...

Poster

This study was the first to investigate the direct effects of anomalous concentrations of ozone mediated by summer heat waves on seed germination in alpine plants. During germination, the seeds were exposed to three peaks of O3 concentration (125 ppb for 5 and 10 days; 185 ppb for 5 days), derived from measurements taken close to the species growin...

Under climate change, regeneration from seeds is becoming increasingly important for species persistence, migration and conservation, especially in high-elevation environments. In this regard, the ability of seeds to remain viable for a long time is a crucial prerequisite for seed persistence in the soil and in germplasm banks. However, little is k...

Glacier foreland plants are highly threatened by global warming. Regeneration from seeds on deglaciated terrain will be crucial for successful migration and survival of these species, and hence a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on seedling recruitment is urgently needed to predict future plant persistence in these environments...

Alpine plants are considered to be particularly vulnerable to climate change and related extreme episodes, such as heat waves. Despite growing interest in the impact of heat waves on alpine plants, knowledge about their effects on regeneration is still fragmentary. Recruitment from seeds will be crucial for the successful migration and survival of...

We hypothesized a geographical pattern of the plant performance (seedling development, biomass production, relative water content and chlorophyll content) as a result of response to the interaction between photoperiod and water availability in populations of the arctic-alpine Silene suecica from different latitudes, thus experiencing different phot...

Many studies have investigated the possible impact of climate change on the distributions of plant species. In the present study, we test whether the concept of potential distribution is able to effectively predict the impact of climate warming on plant species. Using spatial simulation models, we related the actual (current species distribution),...

The use of human-assisted colonization for species affected by climate change is now being adopted by some conservationists but remains controversial. In order to deter extreme translocation actions, a decision framework is proposed that incorporates a biogeographical approach.

Current climatic models predict increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme climatic events (ECEs). Ecological studies recognize the importance of these extremes as drivers of plant growth and mortality, as well as drivers of ecological and evolutionary processes. Here we review observational and experimental studies on ECEs on herbaceous plants...

The warming-induced increase in nutrient mineralization and the further increase in atmospheric nitrogen depositions raise the topic of whether and how alpine plants will react to enhanced nutrient availability. Despite several studies have shown the effects of fertilization on primary production of alpine plants, only few studies have considered t...

Background and Aims Seed longevity, a fundamental plant trait for ex situ conservation and persistence in the soil of manyspecies, varies across populations and generations that experience different climates. This study investigates the extent to which differences in seed longevity are due to genetic differences and/or modified by adaptive response...

With the increased loss of plant biodiversity, the ex situ seed conservation has become of strategic importance. International treaties and conventions encourage more developed countries to cooperate in providing financial and other supports for the establishment and maintenance of ex situ conservation facilities in developing countries. In this re...

With the increased loss of plant biodiversity, the Ex situ seed conservation has become of strategic importance. International treaties and conventions encourage more developed countries to cooperate in providing financial and other supports for the establishment and maintenance of Ex situ conservation facilities in developing countries. In this re...

The climate of Europe has become more extreme in the last century. Exceptional summer heat waves (HWs), associated with lack of precipitation, are increasing in frequency and duration. The wild flora and vegetation are often negatively affected by such extreme weather events and their direct and indirect consequences. The most important effects of...

AimPopulations at the edge of a species' distribution range may differ substantially from central populations. Peripheral populations may have either a high evolutionary potential or be prone to extinction, but the processes driving these outcomes are still unclear. Peripheral plant populations have been the subject of numerous studies and reviews,...

In this study we examined the germination ecology with special reference to the temperature requirements for embryo development and germination of Corydalis cava subsp. cava, under both outdoor and laboratory conditions. Corydalis cava is a spring flowering woodland tuberous geophyte widely distributed across Europe. Germination phenology, includin...

Legumes are particularly useful in agriculture and in habitat restoration, increasing soil fertility and facilitating the establishment of other plant species. Seeds are important for these activities, but the use of legume seeds can be problematic due to seed coat-imposed dormancy. Although various seed scarification treatments have been proposed,...

Background and AimsThe germination test currently represents the most used method to assess seed viability in germplasm banks, despite the difficulties caused by the occurrence of seed dormancy. Furthermore, seed longevity can vary considerably across species and populations from different environments, and studies related to the eco-physiological...

Surface temperatures have risen globally during the last 30 years, especially in alpine areas. It is recognized that these increases are influencing phenology, physiology and distribution of plants. However, few studies have addressed the effects of climate warming at the species range boundary, where plants are expected to be more stressed. We ana...

Farmers and growers are constantly looking for high quality seeds able to ensure uniform field establishment and increased production. Seed priming is used to induce pre-germinative metabolism and then enhance germination efficiency and crop yields. It has been hypothesized that priming treatments might also improve stress tolerance in germinating...

Despite the considerable number of studies on the impacts of climate change on alpine plants, there have been few attempts to investigate its effect on regeneration. Recruitment from seeds is a key event in the life-history of plants, affecting their spread and evolution and seasonal changes in climate will inevitably affect recruitment success. He...