Change in the germination performance of Tamarix ramosissima seeds following storage

Abstract

The small seeds of Tamarix ramosissima, a pioneer shrub or small tree used for sand fixation and afforestation in desert areas, are suspected to have short longevity and as such not be suitable for storage. However, this has not been experimentally verified. In this investigation, germination of T. ramosissima seeds stored under different temperatures (room temperature (25°C), 5°C and -18°C) for different periods (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days) were tested for moisture content and germination capacity. Seed moisture content and germination percentage decreased with increase of storage period and storage temperature. For seeds stored at room temperature, germination percentage decreased to 58% after 30 days and to 0% by 120 days. However, for seeds stored at -18°C for 120 days, germination percentage was 53%. These results indicate that T. ramosissima seeds have short longevity and are not suitable for long-term storage, particularly at room temperature.