Re: Seed vigour

Allan Day wrote:
> 
> On Tue 05 Jan, Neason wrote:
> > (Posting to veglist as may contain info of general interest.)
> >
> > Seed vigor varies according to a number of factors:
> 
> > 4.  The species of plant.  Some plants, such as onions, have very short
> > seed life.  Onion seed loses half its vigor in one year.  Most other
> > seed will retain vigor for three years and well-grown seed of these
> > varieties, handled and stored properly, will retain adequate vigor for 5
> > years.  Note that many individual seeds in a packet will germinate after
> > several years in storage.  But "adequate vigor" means that the seed
> > germinates strongly and grows into a mature plant under field
> > conditions.  That kind of vigor only lasts about 5 years at best.
> >
> > Steve  (Maritime...)
> > ---snip original private email
> >
> Suppose a seed that has been stored for a long time is grown for more
> seed. In the next generation is the vigour restored or is the damage
> permanent? this is obviously important in the case of heritage seeds.
> (perhaps this should go to seeds-list but I have unsubscribed)
> 
> --
> 
> Allan Day  Hereford HR2 7AU allan@crwys.demon.co.uk


If the old seed germinates, and a healthy plant results, then the seed
from the plant should be healthy and true-to-type.  Age alone does not
cause genetic changes in seeds but it may reduce vigor (sorry, Allan,
"vigour") to the point that, even if the old seed does germinate, the
resulting plant is unhealthy because the seed was simply too weak to
grow well.

Steve  (Maritime...)
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