STORAGE OF NONDORMANT SEEDS OF FRAXINUS ANGUSTIFOLIA VAHL

The effects of drying and storage on the quality of Fraxinus angustifo lia nondormant seeds have been investigated. Mature seeds subjected to a 2-week warm stratification (20 degrees C) followed by a 2-week cold stratification (3 degrees C), were exposed to a gentle air stream at room temperature to dry them to 9.5% moisture content. After 4, 8 and 12 months of storage at -3 degrees C, in hermetically sealed container s, germination tests were conducted in darkness at 30/20 degrees C and 25/5 degrees C to evaluate possible changes in seed quality. The resu lts obtained suggest the feasibility of drying non-dormant seeds. In f act, though causing a slight decrease in seed quality, such a process enables storage of 'ready to sow' seeds for at least 12 months without any further loss. The temperature regime of 30/20 degrees C, prescrib ed by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), was found to be suboptimal for the particular conditions tested in this trial, the 25/5 degrees C cycle being more stimulating for germination.