Storage Behavior and Desiccation Sensitivity of Seeds in Acer monspessulanum L.

This study was carried out in order to study of effect desiccation sensitivity and seed moisture content (SMC) on primary features of seed and seedlings of A. monspessulanum sub. turcomanicum with aim to determine seed storage behavior. Pure and ripe seeds were collected from valley Zarrin gol of Alli- Abad city located with Golestsn province in elevations of 500 to 1100 meter above sea level، with initial moisture content 46%. Seeds were stratified for six months to overcome the seed dormancy and in order to creation 9 level moisture content consist of 45%، 40%، 35%، 30%، 25%، 20%، 15%، 10% and 5%، seeds were dried near silica gel in 25°C. All dried seeds imbibed in water for 24 h and incubated under optimum growth condition sow for 30 days using a complete randomized factorial design، with 4 replications. Characteristics of emerged seedlings were recorded every day. Results showed that A. monspessulanum shows intermediate seed storage behavior and threshold water content (TWC)، critical water content (CWC)، and lethal water content (LWC) get 40%، 20% and 5% for this species. Also with reduce moisture content lead to reduce seed viability، germination percentage، germination speed، germination value، germination energy and vigor index and primary features seedlings consist of length seedling، radical biomass and stem biomass. This study was a basic research and defines that the seeds of this species are not capable of long-term maintenance. To obtain the seedlings with desired characteristics moisture content should not be less than the threshold 40% at planting time.