Storage behaviour of seeds of Cinnamomum osmophloeum and Neolitsea aciculata var. variabillima (Lauraceae)

Seed storage behaviour of the lauraceous trees species Cinnamomum osmophloeum and Neolitsea aciculata var. variabillima was tested. More than 65% of fresh seeds of N. aciculata var. variabillima with 6.4% moisture content (MC) (fresh wet basis) retained viability during 1 year of storage at 4°C, but viability was reduced to 28% in seeds with the same MC stored at 15°C. A MC of 15.2% or higher reduced seed viability rapidly at 4 and at 15°C, and seeds stored at -20°C did not survive. Seeds of C. osmophloeum were less tolerant to desiccation than those of N. aciculata var. variabillima, but > 55% of fresh seeds of C. osmophloeum with a MC of 6.4 or of 14.8% survived for 1 month at 4°C. However, viability in seeds of this species was reduced to ≤ 7% of that of fresh seeds in 4 months. Thus, seeds of both C. osmophloeum and N. aciculata var. variabillima exhibited intermediate seed storage behaviour, but they are freezing sensitive. Seeds of these two species retained their original viability during moist storage at 4oC for 1 year, and also germination rate increased.

本研究针对樟科（Lauraceae）两个树种——香桂（Cinnamomum osmophloeum）与变尖叶新木姜子（Neolitsea aciculata var. variabillima）的种子储存特性开展了测试。变尖叶新木姜子的新鲜种子在含水量（moisture content, MC）为6.4%（鲜重基准）时，于4℃条件下储存1年仍可保留超过65%的生活力；但相同含水量的种子在15℃储存时，生活力仅剩余28%。当含水量达到15.2%及以上时，两类温度下的种子生活力均会快速下降，而在-20℃储存的种子则完全丧失生活力。香桂的种子耐脱水性弱于变尖叶新木姜子，但其新鲜种子在含水量为6.4%或14.8%时，于4℃储存1个月仍有超过55%的存活率。然而，该物种种子的生活力在储存4个月后便降至新鲜种子的7%及以下。综上，香桂与变尖叶新木姜子的种子均表现出中间型种子储存特性，但二者均对冷冻敏感。此外，这两个物种的种子在4℃湿润储存条件下可保留原有生活力达1年，且发芽率还有所提升。