Mangroves are one of the most important ecosystems in the world being found in the tropical–subtropical belt. Despite their significance, they have been highly disturbed due to many anthropogenic and natural causes. A significant effort has been made to restore mangroves around the world. However, a lack of information on the seed biology of mangrove species has impeded restoration. Thus, this study aimed to produce a seed dormancy profile for selected plant species of mangroves in Sri Lanka. This profile would allow restoration ecologists to better understand what kinds of dormancy are present, how to alleviate dormancy and how to best stimulate germination to generate seedlings for nursery stock or out-planting. Mature fruits/seeds were collected from coastal zone mangroves in Sri Lanka. Germination and imbibition of non-scarified and manually scarified seeds and embryo:seed length (E:S) ratio of fresh and radicle-emerged seeds were evaluated to assess the class of dormancy. Of the 30 species, seeds from 12 (40%) were non-dormant and 18 (60%) were dormant. Three dormancy classes [physiological (PD), physical (PY) and morphophysiological (MPD)] and presence of epicotyl dormancy were identified. Among species producing dormant seeds, most of them showed PD (44%). PY, MPD and presence of epicotyl dormancy were represented by 28, 17 and 11% of the species, respectively. These findings aid practitioners to craft strategies to effectively break dormancy and germinate seeds for conservation and restoration activities of mangroves.

红树林是热带-亚热带地区世界上最重要的生态系统之一。尽管它们很重要，但由于许多人为和自然原因，它们受到了高度干扰。世界各地为恢复红树林做出了巨大努力。然而，缺乏有关红树林物种种子生物学的信息阻碍了恢复。因此，本研究旨在为斯里兰卡选定的红树林植物物种建立种子休眠概况。这一概况将使恢复生态学家能够更好地了解存在哪些类型的休眠、如何缓解休眠以及如何最好地刺激发芽以产生用于苗木或外植的幼苗。成熟的果实/种子是从斯里兰卡沿海地区的红树林中采集的。评估未划痕和手动划痕种子的发芽和吸胀以及新鲜种子和胚根出现种子的胚：种子长度（E：S）比，以评估休眠等级。在 30 个物种中，12 个（40%）种子未休眠，18 个（60%）种子处于休眠状态。确定了三种休眠类别[生理（PD）、物理（PY）和形态生理（MPD）]和上胚轴休眠的存在。在产生休眠种子的物种中，大多数表现出PD（44%）。PY、MPD 和上胚轴休眠的存在分别占该物种的 28%、17% 和 11%。这些发现有助于从业者制定策略，有效打破休眠并使种子发芽，以进行红树林的保护和恢复活动。S) 评估新鲜种子和胚根出现的种子的比率以评估休眠等级。在 30 个物种中，12 个（40%）种子未休眠，18 个（60%）种子处于休眠状态。确定了三种休眠类别[生理（PD）、物理（PY）和形态生理（MPD）]和上胚轴休眠的存在。在产生休眠种子的物种中，大多数表现出PD（44%）。PY、MPD 和上胚轴休眠的存在分别占该物种的 28%、17% 和 11%。这些发现有助于从业者制定策略，有效打破休眠并使种子发芽，以进行红树林的保护和恢复活动。S) 评估新鲜种子和胚根出现的种子的比率以评估休眠等级。在 30 个物种中，12 个（40%）种子未休眠，18 个（60%）种子处于休眠状态。确定了三种休眠类别[生理（PD）、物理（PY）和形态生理（MPD）]和上胚轴休眠的存在。在产生休眠种子的物种中，大多数表现出PD（44%）。PY、MPD 和上胚轴休眠的存在分别占该物种的 28%、17% 和 11%。这些发现有助于从业者制定策略，有效打破休眠并使种子发芽，以进行红树林的保护和恢复活动。物理（PY）和形态生理（MPD）]和上胚轴休眠的存在得到了鉴定。在产生休眠种子的物种中，大多数表现出PD（44%）。PY、MPD 和上胚轴休眠的存在分别占该物种的 28%、17% 和 11%。这些发现有助于从业者制定策略，有效打破休眠并使种子发芽，以进行红树林的保护和恢复活动。物理（PY）和形态生理（MPD）]和上胚轴休眠的存在得到了鉴定。在产生休眠种子的物种中，大多数表现出PD（44%）。PY、MPD 和上胚轴休眠的存在分别占该物种的 28%、17% 和 11%。这些发现有助于从业者制定策略，有效打破休眠并使种子发芽，以进行红树林的保护和恢复活动。