Seed quality and New Zealand's native plants: An unexplored relationship?

Abstract

Seed quality refers to a number of seed properties which may have varying degrees of practical importance depending on species and end use. Possible reasons for requiring information about the quality of seeds of New Zealand's native plants are presented, and data for both seed physical and physiological quality reviewed. Despite the strategic value of New Zealand's native plants in biological diversity and for the conservation of this biodiversity, their seed quality is largely an unknown area of plant science.

Keywords:

• germination
• vigour
• seed weight
• seed hygiene
• seed moisture
• biodiversity
• genebank