Dormancy, germination and storage of Magnolia ingrata seeds

Abstract

Magnolia ingrata is an endangered species in China. Freshly matured seeds of M. ingrata had an underdeveloped embryo, which grew during cold stratification at 4 degrees C. Both cold stratification and GA(3) overcame dormancy of M. Ingrata seeds. Thus. M. ingrata seeds have intermediate complex morphophysioloeical dormancy at maturity. Since seeds came out of dormancy after after-ripening for 100 d at 4 degrees C. the physiological component of morphophysiological dormancy is non-deep. The initial moisture content of M. ingrata seeds was 29.5%. Most seeds (86.1 %) tolerated desiccation to 17.2% moisture content while more than 70% of seeds lost viability when dried to 15.3% moisture content. Therefore, storage behaviour of M. ingrata seed is recalcitrant. All seeds died after storage for 100 d at -20 degrees C while seed viability was effectively maintained at 4 degrees C.