PRODUCTION AND STORAGE OF RECALCITRANT SEEDS IN THE TROPICS

In most seed species seeds remain viable for a longer period when both moisture content and storage temperatures are low.
The seeds of some species, however, perish at low temperatures and on drying: these are classified as ‘recalcitrant’. Examples are citrus, mangosteen, mango, rambutan, cocoa, coffee, rubber, oil palm, coconut and many timber species of the family Dipterocarpaceae.
The economies of many developing countries depend on such crops.

Because of the short life span of recalcitrant seeds short term storage presents great problems and long term storage is not at present possible.

The present limited knowledge of the requirements of a number of species is reviewed.
Suggestions are made for future research work, especially with regard to the need for establishing germ plasm, gene or seed banks.

Symposium on Seed Problems in Horticulture

H.F. Chin

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1978.83.1