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Seed storage behaviour in Elaeis guineensis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

R. H. Ellis ,
T. D. Hong ,
E. H. Roberts  and
U. Soetisna
R. H. Ellis*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 236, Reading RG6 2AT, UK
T. D. Hong
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 236, Reading RG6 2AT, UK
E. H. Roberts
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 236, Reading RG6 2AT, UK
U. Soetisna
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 236, Reading RG6 2AT, UK
*
* Correspondence
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Abstract

Seed viability was maintained in four cultivars of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) during 12 months of hermetic storage at 15°C with 10–12% moisture content (embryo moisture contents of 19–21%). The viability of both these and drier seeds was reduced greatly during this period at cooler storage temperatures of 0°C and −20°C, however. For example, intact seeds at 6.1–7.4% moisture content (embryo moisture contents of 9.1–12.0%, at which freezing damage would not be expected) lost viability more rapidly at 0°C and −20°C than at 15°C. Moreover, desiccation to 4–5% moisture content (4–6% embryo moisture content) reduced seed lot viability in some but not all cultivars. The results confirm earlier reports that oil palm is not recalcitrant, but neither is it orthodox. Thus, seed storage behaviour in oil palm appears to be intermediate between these categories. Additional results are presented which suggest that the seeds of the royal palm (Oreodoxa regia HBK) may also show intermediate seed storage behaviour.

Keywords

desiccationElaeis guineensis Jacq.oil palmOreodoxa regia HBKroyal palmseed storage longevitytemperature

Information

Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 1 , Issue 2 , June 1991 , pp. 99 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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Footnotes

1

Present address: Research and Development Center for Biotechnology, Jl. Juanda 18, Bogor, Indonesia.

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