Seed Storage database
In nature, the germination of dormant seeds may be triggered by different phenomena such as the cycle of one or more cold winters followed by the warmth of spring; cycles of burial followed by re-exposure to light; passage through a bird or animal gut, fire, or various combinations of these treatments. Artificial substitutes which can be used as dormancy breakage treatments often mimic these conditions and are termed pre-sowing treatments or more commonly ‘pretreatments’.
It must be remembered that:
- There is no single method of pretreatment which is universally effective at overcoming the dormancy of all tree species, and
- The level of dormancy varies between seedlots and individual seeds in a seedlot, hence there may be significant leeway in pretreatment durations.
Chestnut (Horse) or Horse-chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanumStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Horse-chestnut
Alder (Italian)
Alnus cordataStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Alder (Italian)
Alder (Black or common)
Alnus glutinosaStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Alder (Black or common)
Alder (Grey)
Alnus incanaStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Alder (Grey)
Alder (Red)
Alnus rubraStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Alder (Red)
Alder (Green)
Alnus viridisStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Alder (Green)
Monkey puzzle
Araucaria araucanaStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Monkey puzzle
Strawberry tree
Arbutus unedoStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Strawberry tree
Birch (silver)
Betula pendulaStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Birch (silver)
Birch (downy)
Betula pubescensStorage properties, dormancy characteristics and pretreatment durations for Birch (downy)