Adaptation of the tetrazolium method for testing the seed viability, and scanning electron microscopy study of some Western European orchids |
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Authors: | J M Van Waes P C Debergh |
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Institution: | Nationale Plantentuin van België, Domein van Bouchout, B-1860 Meise, Belgium;Lab. voor Tuinbouwplantenteelt, Rijksuniv. Gent, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. |
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Abstract: | A modified tetrazolium method was formulated for use with seeds of Western European orchids. The sequence of treatments which gave the highest percentage of coloured (i.e. viable) embryos was: (1) pretreatment in a solution of 5% (w/v) Ca(OCl)2+ 1% (v/v) Tween-80, (2) soaking for 1 day in sterile water, (3) the classical tetrazolium test. The optimal duration of the pretreatment in Ca(OCl)2+ Tween-80 depends upon the species, and to investigate the effect a scanning electron microscopy study was performed on the testa of 3 species. For a given species, the optimal pretreatment period was not affected by the year of harvest or the source of the seed lots. |
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Keywords: | Biochemical viability Dactylorhiza maculata Epipactis helle-borine Gymnadenia conopsea seed origin sterilization testa |
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