The aim of the paper is to study the germination response of Plantago media seeds, collected from their natural growth environment in order to identify the weaknesses and threats regarding the conservation of this species in grassland habitats from the piedmont areas near Zărand Mountains. The biologic material was represented by Plantago media L. seeds, collected in September from grasslands found at 617 m altitude.We assessed the potential of Plantago media seeds to produce normal plants in a wide range of field conditions. For that, we used the test “top of paper” (TP) in two variants: ITP – temperature 20°C, humidity 90%, with light, without special treatments and IITP at an alternating temperature 20-30°C, humidity 90%, with light, with precooling at 10 C° for five days. Our studies revealed that the highest percentage of normal Plantago media seedlings appeared 21 days after the seeds had been placed for germination (ITP and IITP). The maximum germination (65%) was recorded in variant IITP, when Plantago media seeds were kept at 10° C for 5 days, and then subjected to high humidity (90%) and alternating temperature (20-30°C), with light. The mathematical model used suggests that variant IITP (top of paper) indicates the potential of Plantago media seeds to germinate in early spring on cold and humid soils in Zărand Mountains, where this species was identified and from where we took the seeds for analysis. In the area under analysis, species Plantago media L. is not under any survival risk.

germination, top of paper test, Plantago media L., grassland habitat, Zărand Mountains.

Presentation: oral