0236–6495/$ 20.00 © 2018 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest Acta Botanica Hungarica 60(3–4), pp. 357–368, 2018 DOI: 10.1556/034.60.2018.3-4.7 DATA PAPER GERMINATION CAPACITY OF 75 HERBACEOUS SPECIES OF THE PANNONIAN FLORA AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RESTORATION R. Kiss 1 , J. Sonkoly 2 , P. Török 2 , B. Tóthmérész 3 , B. Deák 1 , K. Tóth 3 , K. Lukács 1 L. Godó 1 , A. Kelemen 1,4 , T. Miglécz 1 , Sz. Radócz 1 , E. Tóth 2 , N. Balogh 1 and O. Valkó 1 1 Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Hungary; E-mails: kissreka801@gmail.com, debalazs@gmail.com, lukacskata93@gmail.com, godolaura0306@gmail.com, tamas.miglecz@gmail.com, radoczszilvia88@gmail.com, balogh.nora.4@gmail.com, valkoorsi@gmail.com 2 MTA-DE Lendület Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group H-4032 Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Hungary; E-mails: judit.sonkoly@gmail.com, molinia@gmail.com, toth.edina033@gmail.com 3 MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group H-4032 Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Hungary; E-mails: tothmerb@gmail.com, kissa0306@gmail.com 4 MTA’s Post-Doctoral Research Programme, MTA TKI H-1051 Budapest, Nádor utca 7, Hungary; E-mail: kelemen.andras12@gmail.com (Received 25 January, 2018; Accepted 12 February, 2018) Seeds ensure the survival and dispersal of the majority of vascular plant species. Seeds require species-specific germination conditions and display very different germination ca- pacities using different germination methods. Despite the importance of plant generative reproduction, little is known about the germination capacity of the seeds of the Pannonian flora, particularly under field conditions. Our aim was to reduce this knowledge gap by providing original data on the germination capacity of 75 herbaceous species. We reported the germination capacity of 8 species for the first time. We also highlighted the year-to-year differences in the germination capacity of 11 species which could be highly variable be- tween years. The data regarding the germination capacity of target species, as well as weeds and invasive species, can be informative for nature conservation and restoration projects. Our findings support the composition of proper seed mixtures for ecological restoration and also highlight the importance of testing seed germination capacity before sowing. Key words: database, germination potential, germination rate, grassland restoration, re- gional flora INTRODUCTION Seeds are crucial in the reproduction and dispersal of plant species, and are important components of community resilience. Viable seeds germinate immediately after seed maturation or enter to a dormant state, which can last from a few days to years, forming a transient or persistent seed bank (Baskin