Storage of Himalayan maple (Acer caesium) seed: A threatened tree species of the Central Himalayas

Acer caesium seed exhibited a well-defined pattern of increase in longevity with decrease in storage temperature and seed moisture content. The relationship between viability, storage temperature and seed moisture content was estimated in terms of time taken for viability to decline to 50% of the original i.e., p5o. The highest p5o for A. caesium seed was 1256 days at 5.91% moisture content and -5°C. Seed stored with original moisture content of 22.66% at 25°C in airtight sealed container recorded least value of p50 of 199 days. The study concluded that A. caesium seeds are short lived when stored in open containers at ambient room conditions with original moisture content. However, viability in storage for comparatively longer period was recorded at ambient room temperature if properly dried to approximate 6.0% moisture content and stored in airtight containers. The overall response of storage behaviour leads to conclusion that seeds of A. caesium possess orthodox storage physiology like some of the species of maples. Data recorded for the relationship between storage temperature, seed moisture content and p50 fitted well to the basic viability equation, which proved highly predictable as shown by the expected p50