Eighty eight plus trees representing the entire distributional range of Pinus wallichiana (Blue pine or Kail ) in Kashmir Himalaya were sampled to determine the extent and nature of variability and character association in eight cone and seed traits. Wide variations were observed in cone weight (28.16-46.0 g), number of seeds/cone (41.6-90.6) and 1000 seed weight (42.0-67.0 g). Genetic coeffici...

The quality of edible seeds for human and animal nutrition is crucially dependent on high zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) seed concentrations. The micronutrient bioavailability is strongly reduced by seed phytate that forms complexes with seed cations. Superior genotypes with increased seed Zn concentrations had been identified, but low micronutrient seed levels often prevail when the plants are grown ...

Quantifying seed viability is required for seed bank maintenance. The classical methods for detecting seed viability are time consuming and frequently cause seed damage and unwanted germination. We have established a novel micro-optrode technique (MOT) to measure seed viability in a quick and non-invasive manner by measuring the oxygen influxes of intact seeds, approximately 10 seconds to scree...

Gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) is a major agricultural and environmental weed in many parts of the world and has a persistent seedbank. Several techniques were investigated to either kill the seed or encourage it to germinate. Scarification of the seed coat resulted in almost complete germination of seeds. Smoked water had little effect on intact seed and high concentrations killed scarified seed. G...

Angiosperm fruits typically consist of pericarp and seed, which collectively function to maximize plant reproductive success. Within-fruit reproductive allocation has been scarcely examined across a wide range of fruit types and taxa although it is critical to the understanding of the evolution of fruit size and seed size. We investigated seed size, fruit size, seed number per fruit (SNF), and ...