New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
Biology, structure, and germination characteristics of seeds of puriri Vitex lucens (Verbenaceae)
R. C. Southward
D. W. Fountain
Centre for Plant Reproduction and Seed Technology
College of Sciences
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Email: seeds@massey.ac.nz
R. Gao
Agronomy Department
Shandong Agricultural University
Taian, Shandong Province, 271018, China
C. R. McGill
H. A. Outred
Centre for Plant Reproduction and Seed Technology
College of Sciences
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract Germination behaviour of puriri (Vitex lucens) is described. Seedlings emerging from fruits from six localities at the southern range of the species in North Island, New Zealand, largely followed a normal distribution. There were distinct locality differences in fecundity. Fruits that produced at least one seedling ranged from 5 to 43% (1.3-16.1% of potential seedlings). An average of 35% of those seeds within fruits that germinated produced multiple seedlings; 22% produced 2, 6% produced 3, and 1% produced 4. Light and electron microscopy of mature seeds revealed an embryo with well-developed cotyledons (with cells containing storage lipids) and axis. A membranous endosperm and testa encloses the embryo, the latter containing fewer and thinner cells with maturity. Seed moisture contents (SMC) and percentage germination within 25 days were recorded from seeds extracted from green (32.6% SMC, 60% germination, 25% fresh ungerminated) and red fruits (27.2% SMC, 58% germination, 14% fresh ungerminated). In addition, further seeds were extracted from red fruits, dried in a glasshouse, and germinated (1.9% SMC, 40% germination, 30% fresh ungerminated) suggesting that seeds do not exhibit recalcitrant behaviour.
Keywords Vitex lucens; puriri; germination; emergence; seed; fruit; recalcitrant; orthodox; New Zealand flora
B02020 Received 4 March 2002; accepted 2 August 2002; published 11 September 2002
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2002, Vol. 40: 427-435
0028-825X/02/4003-0427 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002
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