EVALUATION OF TEMPERATURE AND MOISTURE-CONTENT DURING STORAGE ON THE GERMINATION OF FLOWERING ANNUAL SEED

Various combinations of temperature and moisture contents were used in evaluating the seed storage of nine genera of annual flowers. Relativ e humidity (RH) levels of 11%, 32%, 52%, and 75% provided wide ranges in seed moisture during storage at 5, 15, and 25C. At each temperature , total germination percentages (G) generally declined as seed moistur e content increased during storage. The seed moisture range giving the highest G after 12 months of storage was determined for each temperat ure and plant genus. For all genera, seed moisture contents during sto rage increased as storage temperatures increased at constant RH levels . Moisture contents at 25C storage were 37%, 34%, 29%, and 20% higher than at 5C when RH levels were at 11%, 32%, 52%, and 75%, respectively .