Germination, storage behaviour and cryopreservation of seeds of Champereia manillana (Opiliaceae) and Schefflera octophylla (Araliaceae) --Effect of cold moist storage on germination

Germination, storage behaviour and cryoperservation were tested for seeds of Champereia manillana and Schefflera octophylla. Freshly harvested, mature seeds of both species germinated > 90% after 3 weeks incubation at 30/20oC. Seeds of C. manillana survived desiccation to 5.6% moisture content (MC) (fresh weight basis) during storage at 4oC for 6 months without loss of viability, which thereafter decreased gradually. However, viability of seeds with a MC ≥ 5.6% decreased more rapidly during storage at 15oC than at 4oC. Survival of seeds stored at -20oC was lower than that of seeds stored either at 4 or 15oC. Nevertheless, maximum viability of Champereia seeds with a MC of 5.6% was maintained in liquid nitrogen (-196oC). Thus, C. manillana exhibited intermediate seed storage behaviour. Seeds of S. octophylla survived desiccation to 6~7% and -20oC storage for 24 months without loss of viability. Seeds of this species with a MC ≤ 6.2% also survived in liquid nitrogen, whereas viability was reduced to about 50% of that of seeds originally dried and not stored in liquid nitrogen. Thus, seeds of this species exhibit orthodox storage behaviour.