This document discusses seed viability and germination of Hyphaene dichotoma palm seeds. It defines seed viability as the capacity of a seed to germinate under favorable conditions without dormancy. The tetrazolium or TZ test is described as a rapid method to assess seed viability by staining living seed tissues red. Germination requirements for Hyphaene dichotoma seeds are not discussed in detail. References on general seed viability, germination processes, and palm tree taxonomy are also provided.

1. Seed Viability and Germination
Value Of Hyphaene dichotoma
BY:
VAIBHAVI KADU
M.Sc. PREVIOUS
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
THE MAHARAJA SAYAJIRAO UNIVERSITY OF BARODA
GUIDE: Prof. ARUN ARYA

2. CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Seed Viability
 TZ Test
 Seed Germination
 Germination Value of Hyphaene dichotoma
 Conservation
 References

3. SEED VIABILITY
 The viability of the
seed accession is a
measure of how many
seeds are alive and
could develop into
plants which will
reproduce themselves,
given the appropriate
conditions.
http://theagricos.com/seed-technology/seed-viability/

4.  Germination testing does not always provide an
accurate assessment of the plant producing
capability of seed lot.
 In many cases, seed may be alive but fail to
germinate because of intense dormancy at the time
the germination test is conducted.
 This dormancy, however, may be short-lived, and
those seeds, which did not germinate, may produce
seedlings at the time of planting.
 Seed viability can be defined as “the capacity of a
seed to germinate under favourable conditions in the
absence of dormancy” (Copeland and Mc Donald,
1985)

5.  Why do we test seed viability?
It is important to know that the seeds
that are stored in a gene bank will grow to produce
plants. Therefore they must have a high viability at
the start and during storage. The viability of seeds at
the start of storage will also determine, within the
environmental conditions, the storage life of the
accession.

6.  Seed loose viability due to:
seed loose viability due to adverse weather
conditions during seed development and maturation.
E.g. Drought, excess water, extreme temperature etc.
Nutrient deficiencies and pesticides injury during
seed development and maturation.
Environmental conditions after physiological maturity.
E.g. During harvesting, drying, cleaning, storage and
handling of seeds.

7.  When should viability be determined?
Viability will need to be determined at the
start of storage and at regular intervals during
storage to predict the correct time for regeneration of
the accession. The viability test takes from a few
days to weeks or even months to give an accurate
result.
If possible the results should be
available before the seeds are packaged and placed
in the gene bank so that poor quality seeds can be
identified and regenerated before storage. Where the
viability cannot be determined before storage, the
seeds should be placed into long-term storage to
ensure their safety whilst awaiting the results of the
test.

8.  Seed of several economically important tree species
are used for raising large number of seedlings in
nurseries. For the quick test of viability of seeds, use
of tetrazolium was first introduced by Kuhn and
Jerehel, (1941) this method was further used by
Lakon, (1942) for topographical evolution of the
viability of the seeds by staining for embryo.

9. TOPOGRAPHICAL
TETRAZOLIUM OR TZ TEST
 Topographical or tetrazolium or TZ test is very useful
for rapidly obtaining an indication of germination
potential and viability of samples and is in extensive
use.
 Tetrazolium staining is a dependable and accepted
biochemical method for testing the inherent
germination capacity of a seed lot within a short time,
without their germination test, it is especially
important in case of forest tree seeds as they require
much longer time to germinate or exhibit varying
types of dormancies.

10.  Forest tree seed committee of ISTA (Inter National
Seed Testing Association) has suggested that
tetrazolium staining is the most practical means for
assessing the viability of those kind of seeds, which
require a long duration of germination. (Moore, 1975)
 This test being simple, accurate and rapid, gained a
wide popularity for all kinds of seeds. (Mackay, 1972)
 PRINCIPLE:
A Colourless tetrazolium solution is used as an
indicator producing in living cells a red, stable and
non diffusible substance named Formazan. Thus, it is
possible to distinguish the red coloured living tissues
from the colourless dead ones and the seeds are
classified into viable and non-viable seed classes.

11.  Method:
 Seed should be soaked in water overnight at room
temperature.
 the water-soaked monocot seeds are then cut
longitudinally or laterally to expose the embryo. Seed
coats of dicots should be removed to facilitate the
quick penetration of tetrazolium.
 after preparing the desired number of seeds. They
should be soaked in 1% tetrazolium solution of pH 6
to 7 and be kept preferably in dark at about 30°C for
3-4 hours. Temperature influences the reaction, e.g.
An increase of 5°C , within a temperature range of
25-45°C, reduces staining time by one half
(Moore,1985)

12.  It is preferable not to conduct test above 45°c. If the
acidity of the TZ solution is much high the colour will
not even on viable embryos. Solutions with
progressively lower pH value than 6 tend to be
reflected first by weaker staining and later by failure
to stain and solution with progressively highly pH
values than optimum result in progressively darker
staining. Evaluation problems may be created at
exceedingly high pH values.
 When the colour has developed, the TZ solution
should be drained, the seed should be rinsed 2-3
times with water and evaluated. During evaluation,
seeds should be immersed in water. If it is not
possible to evaluate seeds the same day, the stained
seeds may be kept in a refrigerator in water for 1-2
days.

13. HYPHAENE DICHOTOMA
 Hyphaene dichotoma
is a species of palm
tree in the Arecaceae
family.
 It is found in India
(vadodara, diu) and
Sri lanka.
 It is threatened by
habitat loss.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/seed.htm

14.  Classification
 Kingdom: Plantae
 Group: Angiosperms
 Group: Monocots
 Order: Arecales
 Family: Arecaceae
 Genus: Hyphaene
 Species: H. dichotoma

15. Monocots have only one
seed leaf inside the seed
coat. It is often only a thin
leaf, because the
endosperm to feed the new
plant is not inside the seed
leaf.
Dicots have two seed
leaves inside the seed
coat. They are usually
rounded and fat, because
they contain the
endosperm to feed the
embryo plant.
Classification of Seeds:
http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Germination

16.  Different Type Of Palms:
 Areca Palm Tree
Scientific Name: Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Common Name: Areca Palm, Yellow Palm
 Bismarck Palm Tree
Scientific Name: Bismarckia nobilis
Common Name: Bismarck Palm, Bismark Palm
 Bottle Palm Tree
Scientific Name: Hyophorbe lagenicaulis
Common Name: Bottle Palm
 Coconut palm Tree
Scientific Name: Cocos nucifera
Common Name: Coconut Palm
 Royal Palm Tree
Scientific Name: Roystonea oleracea
Common Name: Royal Palm

17. GERMINATION
 Germination in
plants is the process
by which a dormant
seed begins to
sprout and grow into
a seedling under the
right growing
conditions.
P.C. Vaibhavi Kadu

18. P.C. Vaibhavi Kadu

19.  Seed germination includes five steps:
(1) Imbibition:
absorption of water by the dry seed.
it results in swelling of the seed as the cellular
constituents get rehydrated.
it ruptures the seed coats and enables the radicle to
come out in the form of primary root.
(2) Respiration:
imbibition of water causes the resumption of
metabolic activity in the rehydrated seed.
initially their respiration may be anaerobic but it
soon becomes aerobic as oxygen begins entering
the seed.

20. (3) Effect of Light on Seed Germination:
Plants vary greatly in response to light with respect
to seed germination.
The seed which respond to light for their germination
are named as photoblastic.
(4) Mobilization of Reserves during seed germination
and role of growth regulators:
During germination the cells of the embryo resume
metabolic activity and undergo division and
expansion.
stored starch, protein or fats need to be digested.
these cellular conversions take place by making use
of energy provided by aerobic respiration.

21. (5) Development of embryo axis into seeding:
after the translocation of food and its subsequent
assimilation, the cells of the embryo in the growing
regions become metabolically very active.
the cells grow in size and begin divisions to form the
seedling.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/seed.htm

22.  GERMINATION VALUE:
 Record the number of seeds planted.
 Record the number of seeds that germinated.
 Write a fraction that compares the number of seeds
that germinated to the number of seeds that were
planted.
 Change each fraction to a fraction that has a
denominator of 100.
 Show each fraction as a percentage.
For example, if you planted 50 seeds and 35 seeds
germinated,
35/50 = 70/100 = 70%.
The germination rate is 70%.

23. ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS:
 Habitat loss
 Over-watering
 Not enough water
 Low quality fertilizer
 planting too deep
 Not enough sunlight
 Climate
 Drought
 Transplanting and Transporting
 Lightening

24. REFERENCES
 Agrawal R.,(2002) Seed Technology, second edition
 Bhale M. And Khare D., (2000)Seed Technology,
 Dr. Gohil K., (2012) Seed viability, First edition
 Agarwal P. And Dadlani M., (1992) Techniques in
seed science and Technology, second edition
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282130520
_Effect_of_sulfuric_acid_treatment_on_breaking_of_
seed_dormancy_and_germination_of_Indian_doum_
palm_Hyphaene_dichotoma_a_threatened_and_end
emic_palm
 http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-seed-
germination-definition-process-steps-factors.html

25.  http://bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/bioversity/p
ublications/Web_version/188/ch07.htm#TopOfPage
 http://theseedsite.co.uk/monocots2.html
 https://www.eduplace.com/science/hmxs/ls/pdf/4rs_1
_1-6.pdf
 http://www.palmtreepassion.com/types-of-palm-
trees.html#.WJ3tT4VOLIU
 http://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-
animals/botany/botany-general/seed
 http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-
4684-7747-4_8#page-1
 http://theagricos.com/seed-technology/seed-viability/