Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

SEED TECHNOLOGY IN HIGH ALTITUDE CONIFERS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TEMPERATE CONIFERS OF KASHMIR VALLEY

Naseer A. Mir, T.H. Masoodi, Malik Asif, Hila A. Bhat, Aijaz–Un-Nabi, Aasif A. Gatoo and Aafaq A. Parrey

Abstract

Seed is essential in the regeneration of forests. It is the primary method used by conifers to reproduce, maintain genetic variability, and become established on appropriate sites. Seed germination of most temperate coniferous species is inhibited by seed dormancy. Conifer seeds generally have physiological dormancy and this can be overcome by cold stratification at 20C-50C, some conifer seeds may require one month or less cold stratification to overcome dormancy. Seed dormancy in many conifers such as Abies alba, Abies pindrow, Abies procera, Picea smithiana , Pinus densiflora and Cedrus deodara can be overcome by cold stratification and over wintering for varying periods of time from 21 to 90 days. The duration of cold stratification required to overcome physiological dormancy of the seed from different populations may differ in several species. The conifer trees are sporadic in nature in their seed production, the good seed year occur in conifers after long intervals. So it is important to collect the abundant quantity of healthy seeds in good seed year and then store them under favourable conditions for the use in the lean seed years. Successful storage to a large extent depends on maintaining seeds at are below critical moisture content (5%-9%) and storing at lower or below-freezing temperatures.