Evidence of cell deterioration in winterfat seeds during refrigerated storage

Effective storage of wildland seeds helps alleviate supply shortages and mi tigates variable production associated with annual weather patterns, The st orage environment is critical for seeds like winterfat [Eurotia lanata (Pur sh) Meg.) that rapidly lose viability under ambient conditions. Defining se ed response to storage conditions is basic to effective seed storage progra ms, We used electron micrographs of freshly collected, and of stored winter fat seeds, with vigor tests to compare seedling vigor and to relate seed pe rformance to seed cell biology as influence by; (a) seed age under known st orage conditions, and (b) imbibition temperatures. We found that imbibition temperatures had little influence on the vigor of fresh seeds but signific antly influenced aged seeds. Mitochondrial deterioration was evident in win terfat seeds stored 5-6 years at 5 degrees C, and in fresh, but incompletel y hydrated seeds held at 20 degrees C. We recommend seeds be held at -18 de grees C or colder for long-term storage and that field seedings be done dur ing the cold season to reduce the chance that incompletely hydrated seeds w ill be exposed to warm temperatures.