New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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Germination of Sophora seeds after prolonged storage

D. A. Norton

Conservation Research Group
School of Forestry
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Email: d.norton@fore.canterbury.ac.nz

E. J. Godley
P. B. Heenan

Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln, New Zealand

J. J. Ladley

Conservation Research Group
School of Forestry
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract   Germination of Sophora seeds 24-40 years old from New Zealand (8 species), Chile (2 species), Lord Howe Island (1 species), and Hawai’i (1 species), and of fresh seed from trees established using seeds from the same seed lots, was assessed. Germination was rapid for most seed lots, with, on average, fresh seed having high germination (77-94%) and stored seed low germination (0-40%). Exceptions to this were old S. chrysophylla seed, which had unusually high germination (84%), and fresh S. longicarinata seed, which had unusually low germination (24%). The results provide further support for the role of long-distance oceanic dispersal for the distribution of Sophora sect. Edwardsia around the Southern Hemisphere, and also suggest that long-term seed storage could be used for the ex situ management of Sophora populations. The results also highlight some intriguing ecological correlates of germination that warrant further study.

Keywords   Fabaceae; Sophora; Sophora sect. Edwardsia; seed storage; viability; germination; dormancy; dispersal; New Zealand flora

B02012 Received 25 February 2002; accepted 10 May 2002; published 11 September 2002
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2002, Vol. 40: 389-396
0028-825X/02/4003-0389 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002

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