Data and R code for the manuscript "Environmental drivers of Centaurea cyanus germination: implications for conservation practice"

This repository contains the datasets and R script associated with the manuscript entitled“Environmental drivers of Centaurea cyanus germination: implications for conservation practice”. The data derive from germination experiments conducted on seeds of Centaurea cyanus collected in northeastern Italy from two sites and at different collecting dates. The study assessed the effects of incubation temperature, light conditions, collecting site, and collecting date on seed germination, with the aim of improving germination protocols and supporting conservation practice. The repository provides two datasets and one R script: One CSV dataset contains the main germination experiment testing seed germination across different temperature treatments, collecting dates, and collecting sites. Variables include site, collecting date, temperature, replicate, number of sown seeds, number of viable sown seeds (excluding empty seeds), number of germinated seeds, number of empty seeds, year, and germination percentage. A second CSV dataset contains the light/dark germination experiment conducted at 15 °C, including treatment, replicate, number of sown seeds, number of viable sown seeds, number of germinated seeds, number of empty seeds, and germination percentage. One R script reproduces the statistical workflow used in the manuscript. It includes data preparation, generalized linear models with binomial error distribution and logit link, model checking, ANOVA tables, post-hoc comparisons, and basic visualisation for both the temperature/date/site experiment and the light/dark experiment. A README file provides detailed descriptions of each dataset and variable, together with notes on file structure and data import. Availability: The repository is currently under restricted access and will be made publicly available upon acceptance/publication of the manuscript. Please cite as:D'Agostino, M., Silvia, A., Vuerich, M., Boscutti, F., & Abeli, T. (2026). Data and R code for the manuscript "Environmental drivers of Centaurea cyanus germination: implications for conservation practice" [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19064215