ACCELERATED AGING TO EVALUATE SEED VIGOUR IN EASTERN WHITE PINE (<em>PINUS</em> <em>STROBUS</em>) SEED*

Abstract

Seeds of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) were subjected to accelerated aging for evaluating seed vigour in 100% relative humidity at 39, 41, and 45 °C for 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h. Germination and leachate conductivity before and after aging were measured. All aging treatments decreased germination and seed vigour with seed death after 72 and 48 h of aging at 41 and 45 °C respectively. The relationship of leachate conductivity to germination in the seeds of eastern white pine seemed to improve under aging conditions. Seed moisture contents and leachate conductivity increased as temperature
and treatment time increased. Combining accelerated aging with leachate conductivity measurements allowed germination estimates to be concluded in three days instead of 10 weeks in this species.