Growing Rare Fruit From Seed

John M. Riley
The information here was extracted with minor revisions from an article by John M. Riley that appeared in the 1981 CRF !earboo" #vol. 1$% 1981% pp.1&'(). The f*ll article contains important additional information on mechanisms of seed +ermination% propa+ation techni,*es% propa+ation media% container mixes and seed stora+e. -ee the bac" iss*e information for price and orderin+ information.

Seed Treatment Methods

Hot Water This treatment consists of soa"in+ the seed in hot water for a period of time. .ne proced*re is to po*r boilin+ water over the seed% *sin+ abo*t fo*r vol*mes of water to one vol*me of seed. The intent is a thermal shoc" which rapidly diminished to room temperat*re. /s*ally this is followed by moist cold stora+e. Most patho+ens are destroyed at abo*t 1012 F #(12 C). The treatment is a little tric"y for home *se% since most seed are "illed at 1(82 F #812 C). Sulfuric Acid Treatment The acid attac"s cell*lose and is often recommended as a dramatic treatment for seed coat modification. For the home +ardener% handlin+ s*lf*ric acid may present some ha3ard. Hydrogen Peroxide This is commonly available in a $4 sol*tion. 5t may be *sed in f*ll stren+th for abo*t 61 min*te to disinfect seed and alter the seed coat. The peroxide may then be dil*ted in half with water and the seed soa"ed for *p to 6' ho*rs. Sodium/ alcium Hy!ochlorite This material is commonly available as ordinary la*ndry bleach. 5t effectively sterili3es and disinfects when *sed in a 114 sol*tion. This can be prepared by added 17' c*p bleach to 6 c*ps of water. -oa" the seed for 61 min*tes to sterili3e and rinse thoro*+hly afterwards. Alcohol and "ther Sol#ents Many volatile solvents% incl*din+ +rain alcohol have been mentioned as havin+ an effect on seed +ermination. 8*ite possibly this res*lts from softenin+ waxy compo*nds in the seed coat which are not water sol*ble. Gi$$erellin ibberellic acid promotes +ermination in many seeds. 5t also helps overcome the tendency for some seedlin+ to become dwarfed and to +row slowly after the harsh treatment *sed to initiate +ermination. -eed may be soa"ed with concentration of 111 to 1%111 ppm for 6' ho*rs. yto%inins 9at*ral +rowth hormones stim*late the +ermination of many "inds of seed by actin+ at the molec*lar level on biolo+ical processes. Many synthetic cyto"inins are available from tiss*e c*lt*re s*pply ho*ses% b*t since they m*st be "ept at a low temperat*re to prevent

decomposition% they are not available in +arden s*pply centers. -oa"in+ for three min*tes in "inetin at concentration of 111 ppm has been recommended. &thylene This +as occ*rs nat*rally in plants and has a n*mber of biolo+ical effects% incl*din+ the stim*lation of seed +ermination. .ne of the chemicals available to +ardener to +enerate ethylene is ethephon. -ince +ibberellins% cyto"inins and ethylene are three dominant components in initiatin+ +ermination% it is nat*ral that they wor" best when applied to+ether. Potassium 'itrate Many freshly harvested dormant seeds +erminate better if soa"ed in a 1.64 potassi*m nitrate sol*tion. -eeds sho*ld be soa"ed for no more than 6' ho*rs and then rinsed well. Thiourea This has been *sed to stim*late +ermination of some dormant seeds% partic*larly those that do not +erminate in dar"ness or at hi+h temperat*res. : water sol*tion of 1.; to '4 is recommended. -ince thio*rea is somewhat inhibitory to +rowth% the seeds sho*ld be soa"ed no lon+er than 6' ho*rs and then rinsed well. (itamins The most common vitamin s*pplement for plants is vitamin <1 #thiamine). .ther vitamins of the < complex are also *sef*l. 9icotinic acid #niacin) and ascorbic acid #vitamin C) have all been recommended. Willow Tea : tea made from willow bar" contains a s*bstance that enhances the actions of plant hormones and appears to stim*late +ermination. -oa"in+ seed in willow tea for 6' to '8 ho*rs is s*++ested.

Procedures
The table that follows s*mmari3es specific information *sef*l for +rowin+ rare fr*it from seed. Rare fr*its #mostly those tried in California) are listed by their botanical names. Common names can be connected to their botanical names thro*+h the CRF Fr*it =ist. -tora+e =ife% in months% #ass*min+ proper treatment) is listed in col*mn two. The stora+e type #next col*mn) is cate+ori3ed as follows> WTM))WARM TR"P* A+ M"*ST -eed sho*ld be maintained above (12 F #612 C) and not allowed to dry o*t before plantin+. T*))TR"P* A+ *'T&RM&,*AT& -eed sho*ld be dried to abo*t (14 of harvest wei+ht and stored a temperat*re of abo*t '12 F #'2 C). T,))T&MP&RAT& ,R-eed sho*ld be dried to below ;14 of harvest wei+ht and stored at room temperat*re or preferably '12 F #'2 C). M)) ""+ M"*ST

-tore seed with s*fficient moist*re to prevent dryin+ o*t at abo*t '12 F #'2 C). ?ormancy <rea"er% col*mn fo*r% indicates any special treatment to brea" dormancy. 5n each case the seed can profit from a 6'&ho*r soa"in+ before plantin+. S ))S AR*F* AT*"' -eeds are made permeable to water by sandin+% filin+ or nic"in+ the seed coat. R))S&&, "AT R&M"(A+ Caref*lly crac" or remove o*ter seed coatin+. S.))PR&S"A. -oa" seed 6' ho*rs before plantin+. M ))M"*ST H*++*'G :fter soa"in+ 6' ho*rs% pac" the seed with moist sterile material and store for $1 to 01 days at '12 F #'2 C). ST))STRAT*F-oa" seed 6' ho*rs and store moist for one or more seasons in the nat*ral environment. ?o not let seed dry o*t. WMS))WARM M"*ST ST"RAG& :fter soa"in+ 6' ho*rs% store above (12 F #612 C). @lant soon. W))A+T&R'AT& "+,/M"*ST TR&ATM&'T -oa" seed for 6' ho*rs and s*bAect to periods of '12 F #'2 C). Cycle several times if necessary. ermination @eriod% col*mn five% lists the time lapse between seedbed plantin+ and emer+ence. Time re,*ired to brea" dormancy is not incl*ded. Times vary with c*ltivation and seed condition. Bardiness #de+. F and C)% col*mn six. Cal*es are approximate and are mostly ta"en from boo"s which incl*de the tropics% Florida and California. 5n a +iven sit*ation% plant si3e% previo*s environment% health and chill factor can alter the response to a +iven temperat*re. There may also be si+nificant differences in variants of the same species. The hardiness val*es listed are probably optimistic by abo*t ;2 F #62 C) for tropical fr*it tree seedlin+s or yo*n+ plants. eneral Comments. : n*mber followin+ a symbol indicates the days of treatment re,*ired. : pl*s #D) after a n*mber means the val*e may be exceeded. : temperat*re in parenthesis followin+ the +ermination period indicates the minim*m temperat*re #2F% 2C) re,*ired for +ermination. The information on +ermination time is approximate and based lar+ely on John RileyEs personal experience. HARA T&R*ST* S "F RAR& FR/*T PR"PAGAT*"' FR"M S&&, 0otanical name Storag e Stor age ,or man Germination days Hard iness

life 1mos23 :ctinidia chinensis ar+*ta "olomi"ta :e+le marmelo :"ebia ,*inata trifoliata :melanchier ainifoli canadensis dentic*lat*m :nacardi*m occidental :nnona cherimola 6'D 1 8 8 8 6'D 6'D 16D 16D 16D 16D

ty!e

cy $rea %er

4F 14 3

T? T? T?

-C7C F -C7C F -C7C F

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

11 #& 16) &6; #& $6) &'1 #& '1)

T5

-G7 FM -

1'&61

68 #& 6)

T? T?

MC MC

1'&61 1'&61

6; #& ') 6; #& ')

T? T? T?

-C7 MC -C7 MC -C7 MC

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

&;1 #& ';) &$1#& $;) &11#& 6$)

FT M

-G

1'&61

$1 #& 1)

T?

-G

1'&61

60 #& $)

p*rp*rea retic*lata s,*amosa :ntidesma b*ni*s dallachyan*m platyphyll*m :rb*t*s *nedo :rtocarp*s comm*nis inte+rifolia hypar+yrae*s :simina triloba :verrhoa bilimbi carambola <illardia

16D 16D 16D

T5 T5 T5

-G -G -G

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6)

16D 16D 16D

T5 T5 T5

-G -G -G

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

60 #& $) 60 #& $) 68 #& 6)

16&6'

T?

MC

$1

1; #& 11)

1 1 1

FT M FT M FT M

FM FM FM -

(&61 (&61 (&61

$; #$) $1 #& 1) $1 #& 1)

16D

CM

-C7 MC

$1&91

&6; #& $6)

0 0

T5 T5

-G -G

1'&61 1'&61

68 #& 6) 68 #& 6)

cymosa scandens <li+hia sapida Carica +o*dotiana monoica papaya p*bescens stip*lata toronchi Carissa carandas ed*lis macrocarpa Carya illinoiensis Casimiroa ed*lis

6'D 6'D

T? T?

MC MC

1'&61 1'&61

1 #& 16) 1 #& 16)

FT M

FM -

(&61

$1 #& 1)

6'D 6'D 6'D 6'D 6'D 6'D

T? T? T? T? T? T?

-G -G -G -G -G -G

1'&$1 1'&$1 1'&$1 1'&$1 1'&$1 1'&$1

68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) $1 #& 1) 60 #& $) 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6)

16D 16D 16D

T5 T5 T5

-G -G -G

10 10 10

6' #& ;) 60 #& $) 60 #& $)

$0&'8

T5

MC

$1

&11 #& 6$)

T5

R7-G

1'&61

6' #&

;) tetrameria Castanea dentata p*mila Ceratonia sili,*a Cere*s per*vian*s Chrysophyll*m cainito Citr*s a*rantifolia a*ranti*m limon maxima mitis paradisi retic*lata 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 T5 T5 T5 T5 T5 T5 T5 -G -G -G -G -G -G -G 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 61 #& 8) 6; #& ') 6; #& ') 0 FT M FM 1'&61 68 #& 6) $0 T? li+ht $&1' 60 #& $) 01 T? -C 61&$1 61 #& 8) 8 8 CM CM MC MC 68 68 &11 #& 6$) &11 #& 6$) 0 T5 R7-G 1'&61 68 #& 6)

sinensis Cla*sena lansi*m Coccolaba *vifera Coffea arabica liberica Corn*s amon*m mas Coryl*s americana avellana Cratea+*s aestivalis p*bescens C*drania tric*spidata

16

T5

-G

1'&61

6; #& ')

16

T5

-G

1'&61

6; #& ')

16

T?

FM -

1'&61

$1 #& 1)

0 0

CM CM

FM FM -

1'&61 1'&61

68 #& 6) 68 #& 6)

6'D 6'D

T? T?

CF CF

1'&61 1'&61

1 #& 18) 1 #& 18)

16D 16D

CM CM

CF CF

11&$1 11&$1

&1; #& 60) &1; #& 60)

6'D 6'D

T? T?

-C7 MC -C7 MC

$1&'1 $1&'1

&1; #& 60) &1; #& 60)

$0

T?

-C7T

1'&61

&61 #& 69)

Cydonia oblon+a Cyphomandra betacea ?iospyros di+yna 0 FT M FT M T5 T? -G7 FM -G7 FM -C7 MC -C7 MC 1'&61 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 1 #& 18) &11 #& 6$) 6' T? -G 1'&61 68 #& 6) 8 CM MC 1'&61 &1; #& 60)

discolor

1'&61

"a"i vir+iniana ?ovyalis abyssinica caffra hebecarpa Hlaea+n*s m*ltiflora philippensis p*n+aens Hriobotrya

16D 6'&$0

1'&61 1'&61

6'D 6'D 6'D

T5 T5 T5

-G -G -G

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

6; #& ') 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6)

6'D 16D 6'D

T5 T5 T5

-G7 MC -G -G7 MC

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

&11 #& 6$) 6; #& ') 1 #& 18)

Aaponica H*+enia a++re+ata brasilliensis l*schnathiana *niflora H*phoria lon+an FeiAoa sellowiana Feronia limonia Fic*s carica Flaco*rtia ramonchi Fort*nella Aaponica mar+arita

8 days

CM

MC

1'&61

16 #& 11)

0 0 0 0

T5 T5 T5 T5

-G -G -G -G

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

61 #& 8) 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6)

FT M

FM -

10&$1

6' #& ')

6'D

T5

MC

1'&61

1' #& 11)

16

T5

-G

1'&61

68 #& 6)

6'D

T5

-G

1'&61

6; #& ')

16D

T5

-G

1'&61

68 #& 6)

16 16

T5 T5

-G -G

1'&61 1'&61

11 #& 16) 11 #& 16)

arcinia man+ostana 1&6 FT M FT M -G7 FM -G7 FM 1'&61 '1 #')

xanthochym*s a*ltheria shallon ayl*ssacia frondosa resinosa ev*ina avellana Barpyphyll*m caffr*m Bibisc*s sabariffa Bovenia d*lcis 5n+a paterno =itchi

6&'

1'&61

68 #& 6)

16

T?

MC

$1

1 #& 18)

6'D 6'D

T? T?

CF CF

11&$1 11&$1

1 #& 18) 1 #& 18)

CM

FM -

1'&61

11 #& 16)

6'D

T5

1'&61

60 #& $)

$0

T?

-G

1'&61

68 #& 6)

6'D

T?

-C7 MC

1'&$1

&11 #& 6$)

T5

-G

1'&61

68 #& 6)

chinensis Macadamia inte+rifolia tetraphylla Malphi+ia +labra Mammea americana Man+ifer*m indica Manil"ara 3apota Melicocc*s biA*+at*s Mor*s alba ni+ra r*bra M*ntin+ia

FT M

FM -

10&$1

68 #& 6)

6' 6'

T5 T.

-G -G

1'&$1 1'&$1

6' #& ') 6' #& ')

T5

-G

1'&61

68 #& 6)

6&'

FT M

-G7 FM -

1'&61

68 #& 6)

FT M

R7-G

1'&61

68 #& 6)

6'

T?

-G

1;&$1

68 #& 6)

T5

-G

1'&61

68 #& 6)

6'D 6'D 6'D

T5 T5 T5

-C7T -C7T -C7T

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

&61 #& 69) 1 #& 18) &11 #& 1$)

calib*ra M*sa balbisiana Myrciaria ca*liflora Myrt*s comm*nis @assiflora alata ed*lis la*rifolia li+*laris molissima ,*adran+*laris @ersea americana @istachia vera @ometia

16D

T5

-G7 FM -

1'&61

68 #& 6)

16

T5

-G7 FM -

1'&61

68 #& 6)

T5

-G

1'&61

6' #& ')

6'D

T?

MC

1'&61

6; #& ')

$&0 $&0 $&0 $&0 $&0 $&0

T5 T5 T5 T5 T5 T5

-G -G -G -G -G -G

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

68 #& 6) 6; #& ') 6; #& ') 68 #& 6) 6; #& ') $6 #1)

'

FT M

FM -

1'&61

6&$

T5

R7-G

1'&61

11 #& 16)

pinnata @oncir*s trifoliata @o*teria campechiana sapota viride @r*n*s salicifolia @sidi*m cattleian*m +*aAava @*nica +ranat*m Rhodomyrt*s tomentosa Ribes hirtell*m '8D T? MC $1 &$1 #&$; ni+r*m r*br*m

FT M

FM -

1'&61

68 #& 6)

16&6'

T5

-G

1'&61

1 #& 18)

0 0 0

FT M FT M FT M

FM FM FM -

1'&61 1'&61 1'&61

$1 #& 1) $1 #& 1) $1 #& 1)

6'

T5

-G

1'&61

61 #& ()

16D 16

T5 T5

-G -G

1'&61 1'&61

6; #& ') 68 #& 6)

$0

T5

MC

1'&$1

16 #& 11)

16

T5

-G

1'&61

60 #& $)

'8D '8D

T? T?

MC MC

$1 $1

&$1 #& $;) &$1 #&

$;) sativ*m *va&crispa '8D T? MC $1 &$1 #& $;) Rollinia deliciosa -amb*c*s caer*lea canadensis racemosa -andoric*m "oetAape -hepherdia ar+entea -immondsia chinensis -olan*m ,*itoense topir* -orb*s a*c*paria 6' T? MC 11&$1 &61 #& 6' 6' T? T? -G -G 1'&61 1'&61 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 16D T? -G ;&( #(8I1(0J F% 60I1(0J C) 1; #& 11) '6D T? -C7 MC $1&01 &61 #& 68) $0 T? -G 1'&61 60 #& $) 6'D 6'D 6'D T5 T5 T5 -C7 MC -C7 MC -C7 MC $1 $1 $1 &61 #& 68) &61 #& 68) &61 #& 68) && T5 -G 1'&61 68 #& 6) '8D T? MC $1 &$1 #& $;)

68) domestica terminalis -ynsepal*m d*lcific*m -y3y+i*m aromatic*m c*mini Aamabos malaccense panic*lat*m Tamarind*s indica Theobroma cacao /+ni molinae Caccini*m an+*stifoli*m ashei 161 161 T5 T5 MC MC $1 $1 &61 #& 68) &11 #& 6'D T5 -G 1'&61 11 #& 16) 1 FT M -G (&1' #81I1(0J F% 6(I1(0J C) $1 #& 1) 0 T5 -G 1'&61 68 #& 6) 6&0 6&0 6&0 6&0 6&0 T5 T5 T5 T5 T5 -G -G -G -G -G 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 1'&61 $6 #1) 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 68 #& 6) 1 FT M FM (&61 $1 #& 1) 6' 6' T? T? MC MC 11&$1 11&$1 &11 #& 6$) &11 #& 6$)

6$) corymbos*m Citis labr*sca rot*ndifolia vinifera Ki3iph*s A*A*ba ma*ritiana 16&6' 16&6' T? T? R7-G R7-G 1'&61 1'&61 &61 #& 68) 61 #& () 6'D 6'D 6'D CM CM CM MC MC MC 61&$1 61&$1 61&$1 &61 #& 68) &; #& 61) &; #& 61) 161 T5 MC $1 &61 #& 68)

L Copyri+ht 1981%199(% California Rare Fr*it rowers% 5nc. 8*estions or commentsM Contact *s.