Seed Storage Behavior and Germination of Fragrant Manjack (Cordia dichotoma G. Forst.) and Chinese Hackberry (Celtis sinensis Pers.)

The storage behavior and germination characteristics of seeds of the fragrant manjack (Cordia dichotoma G. Forst.) and Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis Pers.) were investigated. Freshly mature viable seeds of these 2 species could completely germinate under alternating temperatures of 30/20℃ with 8 h of light within 6 wk. The mean germination times of their freshly mature seeds were 15.6 and 11.8 d, respectively. Therefore, the seeds of these 2 species were shown to be nondormant. That is the reason why 4℃ chilling only had an effect on the rate of germination. The seeds of C. dichotoma deteriorated rapidly when the chilling period was extended to 9 mo and died completely after 12 mo of being chilled. With a stratification period extended to longer than 4 mo, seeds of C. sinensis forced seed germination under chilling conditions, and complete seed germination could be achieved when the chilling period was extended to 7 mo. Thus, 4℃ stratification is not an appropriate way to store the seeds of these 2 species for the short term. Seed germinability could be maintained at -20 and 4℃, for at least 24 mo at moisture contents of 4.5~12.7 and 3.8% (on a fresh-weight basis) for seeds of C. dichotoma and C. sinensis, respectively. This therefore confirms the orthodox seed storage behavior of these 2 species.