The Indehiscent Pericarp of Pintoa chilensis (Zygophyllaceae) Increases Seed Germination

Pintoa chilensis Gay was declared an endangered species more than 10 years ago, and there is still no published information about its reproductive biology. As this species is a native Atacama Desert plant and coexists with plants which habitually form persistent seed banks in the soil, it was expected that its indehiscent pericarp would affect seed germination and/or seedling survival. Whole fruits and loose seeds were stored in the laboratory. After seven years’ storage, both the seeds stored within the fruit and the loose seeds were sowed. Subsequently, we compared the germination and survival of seedlings from the two types of stored seeds. According to the results, we can conclude that the indehiscent fruit of P. chilensis increases germination but does not affect seedlings’ survival.