Cultivated northern wild rice (NWR; Zizania palustris L.) has been bred and studied since the 1950s. One challenge facing researchers is the lack of storage options, due to the seed's unorthodox behaviour. This study evaluated varying storage temperature and moisture conditions for the maintenance of seed viability and dormancy breaking in Minnesota-grown NWR. First, seeds were placed in non-submerged, freezing storage (NSFS) for 12–26 weeks, then in submerged, cold storage (SCS) for 2 weeks. The addition of SCS increased germination (%G) relative to NSFS alone (<0.1% NSFS, 15% NSFS and SCS), indicating that NSFS does not kill seeds but also does not break seed dormancy. Next, the required length of SCS was evaluated by placing seeds in NSFS for 12 weeks and then in SCS for 2–14 weeks. A longer SCS period increased %G from 3 to 79%, at 2 and 14 weeks of SCS, respectively. Lastly, seeds were placed in NSFS, followed by SCS, at varying intervals over a 29-week period. Across lines, germination increased from 20 to 76% between 4 and 7 weeks of SCS, respectively, then plateaued. The results of this study indicate that NSFS could be used to store NWR seeds, but at least 7 weeks in SCS is required to overcome dormancy. Additionally, while NSFS did not break seed dormancy, physiological changes related to stratification processes were occurring in non-submerged, freezing conditions. Results also suggest that the genotypic variation in NWR could be utilized for selection to improve germination and storage viability.

中文翻译：

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栽培北方野生稻的可变贮藏条件及其对种子活力和休眠的影响研究

栽培的北方野生稻（NWR；沼泽地番荔枝L.) 自 1950 年代以来一直在培育和研究。由于种子的非正统行为，研究人员面临的一个挑战是缺乏存储选择。本研究评估了在明尼苏达州种植的 NWR 中维持种子活力和打破休眠的不同储存温度和湿度条件。首先，将种子置于非浸没、冷冻储存 (NSFS) 中 12-26 周，然后在浸没、冷藏 (SCS) 中放置 2 周。相对于单独的 NSFS（<0.1% NSFS、15% NSFS 和 SCS），添加 SCS 增加了发芽率 (%G)，表明 NSFS 不会杀死种子，但也不会破坏种子休眠。接下来，通过将种子在 NSFS 中放置 12 周，然后在 SCS 中放置 2-14 周来评估所需的 SCS 长度。在 SCS 的第 2 周和第 14 周，较长的 SCS 期分别将 %G 从 3% 增加到 79%。最后，在 29 周内以不同的时间间隔将种子放入 NSFS，然后是 SCS。在 SCS 的 4 到 7 周之间，发芽率分别从 20% 增加到 76%，然后趋于平稳。这项研究的结果表明，NSFS 可用于储存 NWR 种子，但在 SCS 中至少需要 7 周才能克服休眠。此外，虽然 NSFS 没有打破种子休眠，但与分层过程相关的生理变化正在非淹没的冷冻条件下发生。结果还表明，NWR 的基因型变异可用于选择以提高发芽和储存活力。这项研究的结果表明，NSFS 可用于储存 NWR 种子，但在 SCS 中至少需要 7 周才能克服休眠。此外，虽然 NSFS 没有打破种子休眠，但与分层过程相关的生理变化正在非淹没的冷冻条件下发生。结果还表明，NWR 的基因型变异可用于选择以提高发芽和储存活力。这项研究的结果表明，NSFS 可用于储存 NWR 种子，但在 SCS 中至少需要 7 周才能克服休眠。此外，虽然 NSFS 没有打破种子休眠，但与分层过程相关的生理变化正在非淹没的冷冻条件下发生。结果还表明，NWR 的基因型变异可用于选择以提高发芽和储存活力。