Calgary AB
Canada
Presenter: Jean-Marie Sobze, PhD RPF, Manager, Boreal Forest Plant and Seed Technology Access Centre, Centre for Boreal Research, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).
For many of the native boreal seeds used in reclamation or reforestation programs, supply is far lower than industry demand. This high demand is likely to be explained by the difficulty of harvesting certain seeds exclusively from the wild. It is also possible that demand is being generated by losses during post-harvest handling.
After harvest, the seed materials go through a series of post-harvest handling stages and storage before propagation. Despite post-harvest handling stages playing a critical role in determining seed viability, germinability, or purity, these handling practices are seldom studied. One of the often-overlooked stages of seed production is the storage conditions immediately after collection and before processing. the seeds can lose their viability within a few days after harvesting due to their tiny size and extreme sensitivity to even minor changes in local temperature and humidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the appropriate storage conditions for four species that are commonly used in restoration efforts in boreal Alberta, after harvest and before processing without losing their longevity and germination potential.
Seeds were stored for a varying amount of time (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks) at 4°C to determine the appropriate interim storage conditions after harvest and before processing. The highest germination of goldenrod (75%), buffaloberry (79%), and balsam poplar (100%) seeds was observed for the four weeks at 4°C treatment. However, aspen seed germination was reduced by 22.5% when seeds were kept at 4°C for 3 or 4 weeks relative to the control; the reduction was less (1.5%) when seeds were kept at 4°C for 1 or 2 weeks.
The result suggests opportunities exist to store certain boreal seeds after harvest and before processing without reducing their germination characteristics.