Canadian Forest Service Publications
The kinetics of water absorption in stratifying and nonstratifying noble fir (Abies procera Rehd.) seeds. 1971. Edwards, D.G.W. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 1(4): 235-240.
Year: 1971
Issued by: Pacific Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 28368
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Available from the Journal's Web site. †
DOI: 10.1139/x71-032
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Abstract
Rate of water absorption by empty and filled noble fir (Abiesprocera Rehd.) seeds was faster for 25 °C (nonstratifying) seeds than for 5 °C (stratifying) seeds during the initial stages. After the first 3 days water uptake by empty seeds essentially ceased at 25 °C, but absorption was continuing at 5 °C after 28 days, water levels averaging nearly 60% higher than at 25 °C. Water uptake by empty seeds was used to express absorption by the seedcoat of filled seeds. When germination was first seen at 25 °C, the seedcoat contained 60% of all the water in the seed. Differences in absorption between stratifying and nonstratifying filled seeds were more obscure because of absorption by the internal tissues. At 25 °C, water uptake by filled seeds followed the three generally recognized phases.
The transfer of empty seeds from 25 to 5 °C upset the moisture equilibrium established after 15 days at 25 °C, but although water uptake resumed, the water levels after 45 days were not as high as for empty seeds exposed continuously to 5 °C for 28 days. This was interpreted as indicating that the imbibant had undergone some change which modified the forces of hydration.