At the core of woody plant regeneration in the high mountains of Taiwan, temperature and
water supply are crucial drivers of seed dormancy and germination. The aim of this study was to
determine seed germination in the woody species of Berberis kawakamii, Mahonia oiwakensis
(Berberidaceae), and Lonicera acuminata (Caprifoliaceae) of the high mountains of Taiwan. In this
study, we also examined the kind of dormancy these seeds exhibited and investigated seed storage
behaviors of B. kawakamii and M. oiwakensis in order to provide seed propagation information.
Results showed that seeds of B. kawakamii and M. oiwakensis had fully developed embryos and
had completely germinated in 1 mo, and a higher incubation temperature produced a faster germination
speed; thus, these seeds were judged to be non-dormant. Seeds of L. acuminata had small
embryos and began to germinate after 3 wk of incubation, and up to 50% had germinated in 48~84
d depending on the incubation temperature. Seeds cold-stratified at 5℃ for 4~8 wk had completely
germinated in 1 mo, and thus seeds of L. acuminata were judged to have morphophysiological
dormancy. Germination of seeds of B. kawakamii dehydrated to a 6.8% moisture content (on a
fresh weight basis) and stored at -20℃ for 12 months decreased by about 20%; thus, these seeds
were considered to have intermediate storage behavior. Seeds of M. oiwakensis survived at -20℃
for 12 mo without loss of germinability, and thus they were considered to exhibit orthodox storage
behavior. Abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations in seeds of B. kawakamii and L. acuminata were
603.2 and 847.8 ng/g dry weight, respectively. However, seeds of L. acuminata germinated more
slowly than those of B. kawakamii. The reason that the germination time of seeds of L. acuminata
was extended might have been the underdeveloped embryo with a higher concentration of ABA.
Most seeds in the high mountains of Taiwan disperse in winter, and seeds on the ground are naturally
cold-stratified in winter and germinate the following spring or later. Seeds of B. kawakamii, M.
oiwakensis, and L. acuminata germinated within 4 wk after moist cold stratification, and a higher
temperature produced faster seed germination. We speculated that global warming will maintain or
increase these plant populations in the high mountains of Taiwan if rainfall remains unchanged.