Abstract
Globally, forestry faces challenges in the availability of seeds due to limited knowledge on seed handling of various species. Forestry seeds are constantly being reviewed and classified as either recalcitrant, intermediate, or orthodox based on their storage behavior. It is essential to understand the tree seed storage behavior to maintain seed viability and thus minimize seed losses. There is scanty literature combining factors of seed moisture content (6%, 9%, 12%, 15%, and 20%), seed storage temperature (20oC, 5oC and -20oC), seed storage duration (1, 4, 9 and 12 months), and germination in different sites with varying environmental variables. Ehretia cymosa is important in the Afromontane forestry landscape as a medicinal, rehabilitation, and conservation species. This study conducted desiccation and storage studies and their influence on the viability of E. cymosa seeds. The study sought to determine the optimum conditions for the storage of Ehretia cymosa that maintains viability. This study observed that E. cymosa dried to seed moisture content of 6%, stored for 12 months at 20oC and sown in the laboratory had the highest germination performance (27.6 ± 3.18%) (p<0.05). This confirms that E. cymosa seeds exhibit orthodox storage behavior. The authors recommend longer storage studies (>12months) to determine the actual longevity of the seeds of this species. The significance of these results would be useful for foresters and farmers that would need to use this species for various purposes.
Highlights
Trees seeds have in previous studies been classified as either orthodox, intermediate, or recalcitrant based on the moisture content level at storage [1, 2]
This study observed the mean germination was highest when E. cymosa seeds were dried to SMC 9% (18.0±0.77%) (Figure 1a)
It was observed that in the laboratory seeds stored at 20°C performing better in moisture content (MC) 6%, 9%, and 12% while seeds stored in 5°C environment performed better in 15% and 20% (Figure 2b)
Summary
Trees seeds have in previous studies been classified as either orthodox, intermediate, or recalcitrant based on the moisture content level at storage [1, 2]. Orthodox seeds tolerate desiccation to a low moisture content of between 2-5% [3]. Intermediate category of seeds have been observed from other studies that they can be dried to certain levels, but not as low as orthodox species, and often observed to fail to survive sub-zero temperatures [4, 5]. Seeds that are not tolerant and cannot survive dehydration are categorized as recalcitrant [5, 6]. There are challenges in clearly defining the seeds' storage behaviors of critical species leading to seed losses impacting seed availability [1, 10, 11]
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