Improving Seed Longevity of Native Shrubs During Storage for Reclamation of Oil Sands Mines

Native shrub species are an important component of boreal forests. For successful reclamation, a steady and predictable supply of seeds of native shrubs is needed. However, native shrubs seed time is unpredictable and seeds lose viability rapidly after harvest. The objective of this research is to identify optimal storage conditions so a steady supply of shrub seeds for reclamation would be possible.

Seed longevity varied greatly among the 11 native shrub species. The deep dormancy in most of these species means sustaining seed longevity is possible given appropriate storage conditions. High seed moisture content during seed storage can cause rapid loss of viability. Seed viability did not change significantly with changes in seed moisture content within the range of 3% to 8% seed moisture during storage up to three years, indicating that seed viability of these species can be sustained if they are sufficiently dried before storage.