ABSTRACT

Syzygium maire is an endemic tree in New Zealand and classified as critically endangered. The in situ populations of this species are further threatened by the incursion of myrtle rust. The biology and ecology of S. maire have not been well documented and limited information on seed development, effective germination and seed storage behaviour of S. maire are hampering ex situ conservation and restoration. In this study, we investigated fruit and seed development on S. maire populations growing at four sites and in different seasons, and used short-term seed storage protocols to investigate the storage potential of harvested seeds. Fruit development took 8–11 months with three of the four identified stages occurring during the warmer spring and summer months. Embryos were found to be viable from stage two, but seedlings from final stage embryos were more robust. The moisture content of the fruit pulp varied between populations and within populations between seasons, but embryo moisture content remained more constant. S. maire seeds have high germinability when removed from the fruit pulp, and removal from the pulp is essential for germination. Seeds in fruits stored hydrated at 5°C remained viable for up to 12 weeks, although some germination was observed from eight weeks. This paper identifies optimal time for seed collection to ensure high quality seed for propagation and restoration while the short term storage provides an opportunity for further research into long term seed conservation through cryopreservation.

摘要

Syzygium maire是新西兰的特有树种，被列为极度濒危。在原位这个物种种群由番石榴锈的进一步入侵威胁。的生物学和生态学S.勒梅尔没有得到很好的记录，并限制对种子发育，有效萌发和种子贮藏行为的信息S. MAIRE阻碍了易地保护和恢复。在这项研究中，我们调查了沙门氏菌的果实和种子发育在四个地点和不同季节生长的玉米种群，并使用短期种子贮藏方案来调查收获种子的贮藏潜力。水果的发育历时8-11个月，其中四个确定的阶段中的三个发生在春季和夏季的温暖月份。发现胚胎从第二阶段开始就可以存活，但是从最后阶段的胚胎开始的幼苗更健壮。果肉的水分含量在种群之间以及种群之间在季节之间变化，但是胚芽的水分含量保持更恒定。梅尔从果肉中取出种子具有很高的发芽能力，从果肉中除去种子对于发芽至关重要。尽管在8周内观察到了一些发芽，但在5°C下水合保存的果实中的种子仍然可以存活长达12周。本文确定了最佳的种子收集时间，以确保高质量的种子繁殖和恢复，而短期保存为通过低温保存长期保存种子提供了进一步的机会。