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Seed dormancy and storage behaviour in tropical Fabaceae: a study of 100 species from Sri Lanka

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2013

K.M.G. Gehan Jayasuriya ,
Asanga S.T.B. Wijetunga ,
Jerry M. Baskin  and
Carol C. Baskin
K.M.G. Gehan Jayasuriya*
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Asanga S.T.B. Wijetunga
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
Jerry M. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40506-0225, USA
Carol C. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40506-0225, USA Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40546-0321, USA
*
*Correspondence Email: gejaya@gmail.com
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Abstract

Seeds of legumes are generally considered to have physical dormancy and to be orthodox, but most seed biologists are unaware of the various kinds and combinations of dormancy and storage behaviour in seeds of this family. The aim of our study was to document the dormancy and storage behaviour of seeds of 100 native and introduced tropical Fabaceae species in Sri Lanka and classify them into germination/storage behaviour categories. Moisture content (MC) was < 16% for fresh seeds of 94 species and >29% for those of six. Seeds of these six species had low tolerance for desiccation and for low temperatures. Thus, seeds of six species are non-orthodox and 94 species orthodox. Nine of the 100 species were non-dormant, and 2, 3 and 86 had physiological, physiological epicotyl and physical dormancy, respectively. Six germination/storage behaviour categories were identified among the 100 species. However, as in extratropical regions of the world, orthodox storage behaviour and physical dormancy are characteristic of seeds of the majority of species of Fabaceae in tropical Sri Lanka.

Keywords

non-dormancynon-orthodox seedsphysical dormancyphysiological dormancyphysiological epicotyl dormancytropical Fabaceae species
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , December 2013 , pp. 257 - 269
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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