Seed soak-sorting prior to sowing affects the size and quality of 1.5-year-old containerized <i>Picea abies</i> seedlings

Abstract

Seed soak-sorting prior to sowing affects the size and quality of 1.5-year-old containerized Picea abies seedlings Himanen K., Nygren M. (2015). Seed soak-sorting prior to sowing affects the size and quality of 1.5-year-old containerized Picea abies seedlings. Silva Fennica vol. 49 no. 3 article id 1056. 14 p. Highlights• After soak-sorting all sunken seeds (bottom fraction) were full and viable, whereas floating seeds contained larvae-filled and immature seed.• Seedlings originating from the bottom fraction were greater in height and diameter than control seedlings or those originating from the floating seeds.• The proportion of saleable seedlings was four percentage points higher in the bottom fraction than in the other seedlings. AbstractWe studied the effect of soak-sorting Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) seeds on emergence, development and quality of container seedlings in two commercial seed lots. The seeds, separated by soaking into bottom and surface fractions, were sown in June, and the seedlings were grown during two growing seasons under typical Finnish nursery conditions. The first summer seedlings were grown in a greenhouse and outdoors for the second, full growing season. All sunken seeds were full and viable according to radiography, whereas the floating seeds contained 2% and 13% larvae-filled and 8% and 11% anatomically immature seeds, depending on the seed lot. Seedlings grown from the bottom fraction seed emerged 2.5-3.5 days earlier than seedlings of storage dry (i.e. control) seed. Height, diameter, and shoot and root dry mass of the seedlings were affected by soaking after both the first and second growing seasons. The largest seedlings originated from the bottom fraction. The proportion of saleable seedlings was four percentage points higher in the bottom fraction than in the other seedlings. The effects of soaking found in this study are more notable than as previously reported for Norway spruce seedlings. This suggests that soaking and soak-sorting may be most useful when the growing conditions are stressful, i.e. when seeds are sown in summer rather than 1-year-old seedling crops sown in spring under the climate conditions typical of Finland.

Chemical composition and in vitro biological activities of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis DC.) seeds as influenced by viability

“…1A. Applying this widely used "float-testing", viable seeds stay fully immersed in water as a result of the higher weight caused by the presence of germen, while nonviable seeds (empty or without germen) stays floating in the surface (Himanen & Nygren, 2015). Viable ( Fig.…”

Seedling Production and the Field Performance of Seedlings

“…The quality and germinability of seeds greatly influence the success of producing healthy and well-growing seedlings. Germinability and seedling health can be enhanced through different production methods [8]. In this issue, Kaliniewicz and Tylek [9] found that the quality of pedunculate oak acorns can be improved by different seed treatments prior to germination.…”

Flotation techniques to improve viability of Juniperus polycarpos seed lots

“…In addition, up to 58 % of mature juniper fruits are attacked by Megastigmus insect species, resulting in germination failure (Djavanshir 1974). These unproductive seeds should be removed from the seed lots to produce the desired quantity of seedlings needed for active restoration program and for ensuring a high percentage of usable seeds in nurseries (Himanen and Nygren 2015) to reduce the cost of containerized seedling production.…”

“…Willd seed lot. Using SG separation in water, Himanen and Nygren (2015) effectively sorted nonviable seeds of Picea abies L. (Karst.…”