Comparison of seed desiccation sensitivity amongst Castanea sativa, Quercus ilex and Q. cerris

Leon-Lobos, P. and Ellis, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3695-6894 (2018) Comparison of seed desiccation sensitivity amongst Castanea sativa, Quercus ilex and Q. cerris. Seed Science and Technology, 46. pp. 233-237. ISSN 0251-0952 doi: 10.15258/sst.2018.46.2.05

Abstract/Summary

The distribution and propagation by seed of species with recalcitrant seed storage behaviour requires knowledge of the lowest safe moisture content before desiccation damages seed survival. These values were comparatively high and varied amongst the forest tree species Castanea sativa (58%), Quercus cerris (40-47.5%) and Quercus ilex (44%) (Fagaceae) collected at one site in one year. Relations between lower seed moisture contents and viability (radicle emergence) were sigmoidal and quantified by logistic curves, with Q. ilex showing the smallest seed-to-seed variation.