Separation of empty and dead-filled seeds from a seed lot of Pinus Patula with IDS technique

The IDS (Incubation, Drying and Separation) technique was tested on a seed lot of Pinus patula in an attempt to separate empty and dead-filled seed, from viable seeds. Seeds were incubated for three or seven days followed by drying for three, six, nine and twelve hours and then separated in water. All IDS-treatments gave 96-100% germination in the sunken fraction compared with 72% of untreated seeds. The mean germination time of sunken seeds from all IDS-treatments decreased to 8.2-10.9 days compared to 13.1 days in the control. Although all IDS-treatment improved germination capacity and mean germination time of sunken seeds, we recommend seven days of incubation followed by three hours of drying and separation in water as an optimal IDS condition for P. patula seed lots.