I provided optimal conditions, but no V. lucens seeds germinated. Other species germinated, however.
Dear Andrew,
Generally, tree seeds as Vitex lucens have two possibilities of failling under germination test in the laboratory conditions. First, the seeds may be dead that is not the case because I think that you are working with newly harvested seeds. Next, the most probably cause is the presence of seed dormancy. The use of the tetrazolium test may help you to eliminate the first cause. Dormancy requires more insight in the seed physiology. Based on your first question days ago about birds I suggest that these seeds will require treatment with acid solutions. This work needs time because it is necessary to treat all the working sample with the solution (....different concentrations). Usually, we have made use of sulphuric acid under different times. In nature, the seed tegument is made permeable to water by the action of the weather conditions. Otherwise, if you have seen birds feeding on the mature fruit, the use of acid is reinforced for the laboratory conditions. Best regards. Walter
Dear Andrew
You can sometimes find some red puriri (Vitex lucens) fruits on trees. Clean them by soaking in water for a few days until the pericarps become soft. Then remove the large blackish seeds and stratify by mixing the seeds in moist sand and placing the mixture in a sealed container in a refrigerator at 3-5 °C for about two months. You need to make sure the seeds remain moist while in the fridge. After stratifying, you can test the seeds for germination at the optimum temperature. You can also treat the seeds with gibberellic acid (GA3) for quick dormancy breaking.
Best wishes
Kazem
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