STUDIA FORESTALIA SUECICA Comparative studies on germinability of Pinus silvestris and Picea abies seed by the indigo carmine and x-ray contrast methods

ODC 232.318: 174.7-01.5.4 In this investigation the results o f germinability o f ten samples each o f Pinus silvestris and Picea abies seed by the indigo carmine and the x-ray contrast methods are compared with their germination values on Jacobsen apparatus. T w o dif ferent criteria, namely those o f Hao (1939) and Krzeszkiewicz (1939) were used for judging the gerrninability by the indigo carmine method. In general, the values o f germinability o f the samples by the indigo carmine method agreed better with the germination values in the case o f samples with high viability than in those with reduced viability. O n an average, the gerrninability values after Krzeszkiewicz showed relatively larger variation f rom the germination values than those after Hao. T h e results o f germinability by the x-ray contrast nzethod agreed well with the germination percentages in all the sanzples o f both the species. T h e investigation has shown that the x-ray contrast method is more reliable than the indigo carmine method for rapid determination o f the gerrninability o f Scots pine and Norway spruce seed. Ms. received 23rd March 1972