Fire cues trigger germination and stimulate seedling growth of grass species from Brazilian savannas.

The strong promotive effect of smoke on Aristida germination suggests that these species are fire-adapted. Aristida species have an active awn system, which facilitates seed burial, and the smoke and dark interaction would ensure buried seeds germinated post-fire. The species that showed no response to fire cues may either have adapted via alternative strategies or require different concentrations of smoke or levels of heat. This study is one of very few examples showing a positive germination and seedling growth response to smoke for species from neotropical savannas.