New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
Seed dormancy and germination in Melicytus ramiflorus (Violaceae)
H. HERRON
J. CLEMENS*
Institute of Molecular BioSciences
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract The effects were studied of scarification
(concentrated sulphuric acid for up to 5 min), leaching (for up to 2 h),
stratification, and storage environment on germination of seed of the New
Zealand endemic tree
Melicytus ramiflorus. Seeds that were incubated
immediately after extraction from mature fruits germinated readily (87%), and
leaching did not further enhance germination. Acid scarification only reduced
germination percentage while increasing germination rate. Air-dried seed also
germinated well (>80%) once transferred to a moist incubation environment.
Germination occurred in seed stratified in the light but not in darkness. The
possible significance of harvest date on the presence of germination inhibitors
is discussed.
Keywords Melicytus ramiflorus; mahoe; seed
germination; scarification; leaching; dormancy
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2001, Vol. 39: 245-249
0028-825X/01/3902-0245 $7.00 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
2001
*Author for correspondence
B00034
Received 18 August
2000; accepted 22 November 2000
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (460K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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