title: Seed cryopreservation and longevity of two Salix hybrids.
abstract: The effects of desiccation and storage temperature on the viability and longevity of willow seeds was investigated using two hybrids, Salix rehderiana x (Salix x capreola) [cross 458] and Salix x sericans x Salix viminalis [cross 512]. Freshly harvested seed of both crosses survived silica gel drying down to c. 3 to 5% moisture content. Hybrid 458 seed stored in liquid nitrogen (-196C) for 3 d retained viability when equilibrated to < or = 45% RH (pre-storage), showed slightly reduced survival at 65% RH and exhibited no survival at > or =82% RH. The level of survival after 68 d for seeds pre-equilibrated to either c. 10 or 65% (5 or 10% moisture) and stored at four temperatures was -196C > -20C > 2C > 16C. At all temperatures, drier seed stored better than wetter seed. For hybrid 512, seed longevity at 20C > 40C > 60C, and a 10% fall in pre-storage seed RH resulted in a c. 2-fold increase in longevity at each storage temperature. The response of hybrid willow seeds to desiccation and cooling raises possibilities for the long-term seed conservation of Salix species by cryopreservation.
authors.affiliation: Seed Conservation Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wellcome Trust Millennium Building, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN, UK. c.wood@rbgkew.org.uk
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Hugh W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lindegaard
mesh_terms: D015925:Cryopreservation; D003890:Desiccation; D032108:Salix; D012639:Seeds; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors