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Germination of Juniperus procera seeds in response to stratification and smoke treatments, and detection of insect-damaged seeds with VIS + NIR spectroscopy

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Abstract

Seeds of Juniperus procera collected from five provenances across its geographic range in Ethiopia were subjected to cold-moist stratification at 5°C or 10°C for 6–12 weeks. The effect of aqueous smoke solution in overcoming the light requirement for germination, and the potential of visible (VIS) and near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy for sorting sound and insect-damaged seeds were also investigated. Highly significant differences in germination were detected among provenances (P < 0.0001) and stratification periods (P <  0.0001), but not between temperature regimes (P=0.111). Seeds from the south and southeast distribution ranges had higher percentage germination after 6 weeks of stratification than seeds collected from north, northwest and central ranges of distribution. The smoke treatment did not affect germination regardless of whether the seeds were exposed to light. Exposure to light increased germination capacity three fold. Sound and damaged seeds were distinguished with 90% accuracy using VIS + NIR spectroscopy. It can be concluded that dormancy in juniper seeds varies with provenances, and cold stratification for 6 weeks alleviates dormancy in some seed lots. Tentatively, smoke treatment seems ineffective in overcoming photo-dormancy in juniper seeds. VIS + NIR spectroscopy has demonstrated a great potential for sorting damaged seeds, thereby upgrading seed lot purity.

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Acknowledgements

The Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Forestry Research Directorate and Regional Agricultural Bureaus are acknowledged for the support during seed collection. We highly appreciate Thomas Persson at Vindeln rökeri AB for producing smoked water and the department of organic chemistry, Umeå University for allowing us to use their NIR instrument. The valuable and constructive comments suggested by the editor-in-chief and two anonymous reviewers are highly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Tropical Silviculture and Seed Laboratory, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden

    Mulualem Tigabu, Joakim Fjellström & Per Christer Odén

  2. Forest Stewardship Council, African Regional Office (FSC Africa), P.O.Box RY 615, Kumasi, Ghana

    Demel Teketay

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  1. Mulualem Tigabu
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  2. Joakim Fjellström
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Correspondence to Mulualem Tigabu.

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Tigabu, M., Fjellström, J., Odén, P.C. et al. Germination of Juniperus procera seeds in response to stratification and smoke treatments, and detection of insect-damaged seeds with VIS + NIR spectroscopy. New Forests 33, 155–169 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-006-9020-9

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