Viability Determination of Pinus rigida Seeds Using Artificially Accelerated Aging

We tested the seed viability of Pinus rigida using accelerated aging to discover optimum times and temperatures far artificially accelerated aging. Seeds were artificially aged at different temperatures and during different tines. The seed viability was affected by the accelerated aging and by temperature with a decline in germination and seed vigor. The aging index of P. rigida seed was 0.31 at and seed viability was nearly lost after aging treatment at for 15 days. The optimum temperature of P. rigida far the aging test was decided to be approximately on the basis of the aging index. Inorganic materials and conductivity of leaching solution from aging seeds increased with the increase of aging period. The accelerated aging test was considered to be a suitable method to evaluate the seed viability of tree species. Because seed characters are much different among tree species, however, more studies need to be done to discover the optimum conditions for aging by tree species.