Germination, storage behaviour and cryopreservation of seeds of Champereia manillana (Opiliaceae) and Schefflera octophylla (Araliaceae)

Germination and storage behaviour including cryopreservation of Champereia manillana and Schefflera octophylla seeds were studied. Freshly harvested, mature seeds of both species germinated > 90% after three weeks incubation at 30/20 degrees C. Seeds of C. manillana survived desiccation to 5.6% moisture content (MC) (fresh weight basis) during storage at 4 degrees C for 18 months without loss of germinability, whereas the seeds desiccated to 11.3% MC decreased germination percentage from 94.7% to 70% during storage at the same condition. Viability of C. manillana seeds with a MC > 5.6% decreased more rapidly during storage at 15 degrees C than at 4 degrees C. Survival of seeds stored at -20 degrees C was lower than that of seeds stored at either 4 or 15 degrees C. However. maximum viability with a MC of 5.6% was maintained in liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) storage after 12 months. These characteristics of C. manillana seeds can be considered as intermediate storage behaviour. Seeds of S. octophylla survived desiccation to 6-7% and -20 degrees C storage for 24 months without loss of viability. Seeds of this species with a MC <= 6.2% also survived in liquid nitrogen, whereas viability was reduced to about 50% of that of seeds originally dried and not stored in liquid nitrogen. Considering the sensitivity of seeds of this species towards lower desiccation (< 6% MC) at -20 degrees C and decrease of viability during the 24-month storage, the seeds of this species can probably be categorized as having an intermediate storage behaviour.