Seed storage behaviour deviating from the orthodox and recalcitrant type
1996
Lin, T.-P. (Taiwan Forestry Research Inst., Taipei (China). Tree Seed Lab.)
Seed storage behaviour was evaluated for three tree species representing three genera of the Lauraceae family: Neolitsea parvigemma (Hay.) Kaneh. + Sasak., Lindera megaphylla Hemsl., and Cinnamomum subavenium Miq. Mature fresh seeds were initially dehydrated at 23 deg C to either 82 % or 33 % relative humidity (rh) for 18-20 days, and then stored at the same rh for up to one year at different temperatures (-20, 4, and 15 deg C). After dehydration to water contents less than 10 % seeds showed some degree of tolerance and maintained 50 % or more of the original germination percentages of the above three species. The viability of desiccated seeds was lost at -20 deg C storage and decreased during storage at either 82 % or 33 % rh and 4 or 15 deg C. Seeds dried to 82 % rh have a greater initial viability than those dried to 33 % rh. Thereafter the rates of decrease in germination capacity of seeds stored at 82 % rh were greater, resulting in loss of viability earlier than for seeds stored at 33 % rh. Seeds of these three species are characterised by partial desiccation tolerance and freezing sensitivity deviating from the definitions of either orthodox and recalcitrant storage behaviour. Deep dormancy of fresh seeds was observed for N. parvigemma but not for the other two species, and was overcome on wet storage at 4 deg C. Cold wet storage is the best practical way of preserving these seeds with their original viability
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