THE INFLUENCE OF SOME FACTORS ON QUALITY OF STORAGE SEEDS OF (Shorea roxburghii G.Don)

Abstract

Seeds are an important technical material for afforestation. For neutral and hygroscopic seeds, research on seed collection, processing and storage techniques is extremely necessary because the nature of these seed groups is that they lose their germination very quickly and are difficult to preserve. On the basis of such knowledge, along with the urgent requirement for conservation of the Dipterocarpaceae ecosystem on coastal sandy soil; the study on the effect of several factors impacting on the seed preservation quality of the Shorea roxburghii was conducted. Research results noted: 1) Seeds should be collected at the point of full maturity (when 70% of the fruit on the tree with half of its wings turn brown to full brown). Under normal temperature (28-30^oC) storage conditions, the safe shelf life of seeds is 7 weeks at 30-35% humidity. Therefore, the humidity content of seeds for storage at normal temperature should be 30-35%; 2) Seeds with 50% humidity, stored at 15^oC, have a safe life span of 10 weeks. Thus, the storage temperature applicable to seed storage should be 15^oC; 3) Seeds with 35% humidity, stored at 15^oC have a safe lifespan of 22 weeks; Seeds with 30% and 40% humidity (storage temperature 15^oC) have a safe life of 15-16 weeks. Acceptable fluctuation of seed humidity is 30-40%, optimal is 35%, at storage temperature is 15^oC