New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
Germination behaviour of seeds of the New Zealand woody species Alectryon
excelsus, Corynocarpus laevigatus, and Kunzea ericoides
C. J. BURROWS
Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Abstract Germination rates, percentage germination success,
and phenomena related to germination delay were determined for seeds of
Alectryon excelsus, Corynocarpus laevigatus, and Kunzea
ericoides, taken from freshly collected fruit. The experimental treatments
simulated natural conditions that the seeds could experience after dispersal.
In a treatment where seeds were cleaned and kept moist, in the light,
germination success was 94% for Corynocarpus and 100% for Kunzea
but only 48-56% for Alectryon. Seeds of each species germinated
moderately to very well (50-100%) on soil and (except Alectryon) in the
dark. The seedlings of the large-seeded Alectryon (seeds at 5 cm
depth) and Corynocarpus (5 and 10 cm depth) reached the surface
when seeds were buried in soil. Buried seeds of Kunzea (5 cm depth)
germinated and the seedlings died underground. After seeds were kept dry for c.
5 months those of Kunzea germinated well (92%), those of
Alectryon moderately well (58%), and those of Corynocarpus poorly
(10%).
The seed germination behaviour of the three species accords quite well with
the habitat conditions in which juveniles and adults are found.
Keywords seeds; germination tests; simulating nature; winter
germination
B95050a
Received 27 October 1995; accepted 4 July 1996
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