Effect of desiccation, temperature, and moisture content on seed storage of three tropical tree species
1997
Gonzalea J, E. | Fisher, R.F.
We studied the viability of seeds of Hyeronima alchomeoides Fr. Allemao, Virola koschnyi Warb. and Vochysia guatemalensis D. Smith in relation to desiccation, seed moisture content, and storage temperature. Seed was either desiccated in chambers with activated silica gel or using air passed through columns of activated silica gel. Two seed moisture contents were achieved: 25-30% and 6-8%. Desiccated seeds were stored at either room temperature (25 +/- 1 C) or in a cold room (4 +/- 1 C). Seeds of V. koschnyi and V. guatemalensis did not tolerate the loss of moisture and lost their viability completely. The seeds of H. alchorneoides tolerated desiccation treatments without significant loss of viability. A combination of low temperatures (4 +/- 1 C) and low seed moisture content (68%) allowed seeds to be stored for 6 mo. However, mean germination was reduced by storage. We also attempted to inhibit the germination of V. guatemalensis by treatment with five concentrations of abscisic acid: 10(-4), 10(-6), 10(-10), 10(-15), and 10(-20) M. Abscisic acid failed to stop the germination of fresh seeds at any concentration tested.
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