Preprint Article Version 2 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Seed Biologists Beware: Estimates of Initial Viability Based on Ungerminated Seeds at the End of an Experiment May Be Error-Prone

Version 1 : Received: 9 September 2021 / Approved: 15 September 2021 / Online: 15 September 2021 (12:19:18 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 5 November 2021 / Approved: 5 November 2021 / Online: 5 November 2021 (14:00:34 CET)
Version 3 : Received: 17 November 2021 / Approved: 17 November 2021 / Online: 17 November 2021 (13:15:02 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Lamont, B.B. Seed Biologists Beware: Estimates of Initial Viability Based on Ungerminated Seeds at the End of an Experiment May Be Error‐prone. Plant Biology 2022, 24, 399–403, doi:10.1111/plb.13407. Lamont, B.B. Seed Biologists Beware: Estimates of Initial Viability Based on Ungerminated Seeds at the End of an Experiment May Be Error‐prone. Plant Biology 2022, 24, 399–403, doi:10.1111/plb.13407.

Abstract

Seed viability is routinely measured on seeds that fail to germinate at the end of an experiment. Together with the number of germinants, this is used to estimate viability of the seeds at start of the experiment (i.e., initial viability) and provides the comparative basis on which germination success is determined. Perusal of the literature shows that sometimes (perhaps often, as the problem has yet to be recognized or reported) prolonged duration in the treatment, especially the control where little germination occurs, can lead to loss of viability. This results in underestimation of initial viability if that treatment is used. I caution against the routine use of end-of-trial germination and viability of ungerminated seeds as an estimate of initial viability in determining germination success of various treatments. I explore ways to deal with the problem but the preference is for estimates of initial viability to be undertaken on a separate sample of seeds concurrently with the experiment as this avoids the risk of seed death during the trial.

Keywords

germination; Leucadendron; seed storage; seed viability estimation; viability loss

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Plant Sciences

Comments (1)

Comment 1
Received: 5 November 2021
Commenter: Byron Lamont
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author
Comment: i am now the sole author - Byron B Lamont, B.Lamont@curtin.edu.au - of this manuscript. as the content has now changed considerably, the other three authors have agreed to withdraw - i can send you copies of their withdrawal messages to me if required.
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