Seed Germination and Seedling Establishment of Ficus microcarpa L.

Ficus microcarpa bears 1-4 crops a year in Guangzhou, South China, and therefore it has to produce lots of seeds to maintain large pollinating fig wasp population. However, it has a low population density under natural conditions, even in tropical forests. Seed germination under different conditions was conducted, and the result showed substrate type was an important factor for fig tree seed germination. Low germination rate was found on forest soil, and moreover, forest soil was not a good substrate for longer term survival of seedlings. The effects of temperature and nutrient on seed germination were not significant, but low germination percentage occurred in acid Hoagland. So acid forest soil was considered as a key limiting factor to seed germination and seedling establishment, and was probably one of reasons of low abundances of figs in the natural forest.