Seed bank dynamics of Gynandropsis gynandra L. (Briq.),in a Arid Shrub land of Sindh

The present research aims to understand the seed bank dynamics of a selected shrub land of sindh. studies were conducted for two consecutive years (2012 & 2013). mostly annual species were observed to be growing on the study site which exhibited persistent nature of seed bank and few perennial species were also collected. existing vegetation was well represented in the seed bank samples in both years however; the seed bank species in 2013 were not well represented in the above ground vegetation which was related to increased site disturbance. seed densities for most species were highest before rainfall with a gradual decrease after rainfall. the onset of dispersal caused significant increase in seed densities in the third collection i.e.,in soil samples collected after seed rain. enhanced surface disturbance in the year 2013 caused a decline in overall seed count. © 2016,pakistan botanical society. all rights reserved.