Eco-physiological characteristics of germination and storage of Castanopsis chinensis seeds.

The morphological traits and eco-physiological characteristics of germination and storage of Castanopsis chinensis seeds were investigated by widely used methods. The results show that: 1) the seeds can be dispersed only over short distances from the parent plants due their big size and heavy 1 000-grain-weight; 2) the seeds can germinate in a wide range of temperatures from 10 to 40℃; the suitable temperature is 20--35℃ and ambient temperature 18--32℃, their germination does not require light; 3) the seeds have no dormancy and have weak desiccation-tolerance, so the seeds belong to recalcitrant seeds. The germination percentage of the seeds of this plant can reach over 60% after wet storage for six months at 4℃ and 40% after wet storage for six months at ambient temperature.The ideal method to preserve the seeds is with wet storage at a low temperature above 0℃. The final germination percentage and seedling survival rate of seeds buried in soil are higher than those of seeds found at the soil surface. Most of the seeds lose their germinability because of damage by rats, insects and other animals during the process of development, shedding and dispersal, which results in poor field seed germination and seedling survival.