New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
An investigation of recalcitrance in seeds of three native New Zealand tree
species
PETER BANNISTER
TUI BIBBY
PAULA E. JAMESON*
Department of Botany
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
*Present address: Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Massey
University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract Recalcitrance in seeds of three New Zealand native
tree species (Corynocarpus laevigatus, Griselinia littoralis,
Hoheria populnea) was investigated by examining the germination of
fruits and seeds that were desiccated following collection. Seeds of
Corynocarpus laevigatus and Griselinia littoralis that were
allowed to dry in the laboratory showed the reduced percentages and rates of
germination typical of recalcitrant seeds, but similarly treated seeds of
Hoheria populnea germinated more rapidly and show no decrease in
germination after desiccation. The water relations of Corynocarpus
laevigatus fruits were examined in greater detail. The bulk of water loss
(>50%) occurs in the flesh of the fruit while the fibrous endocarp presents
a physical barrier not only to germination but also to both water uptake and
loss by the embryo. The water content of embryos is conserved at the expense of
the outer layers of the fruit, so that desiccation affects the germination of
embryos from intact fruits less than that of either naked embryos or embryos
from fruits lacking flesh.
Keywords seeds; germination; recalcitrance; desiccation;
Corynocarpus laevigatus; Hoheria populnea; Griselinia
littoralis; New Zealand
B96009
Received 5 February 1996; accepted 29 July 1996
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