Seed storage and seed storage reserves in Chatham Island forget‐me‐not (Myosotidium hortensia, Boraginaceae)

Abstract Chatham Island forget‐me‐not is endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, where it is mainly confined to the outer islands. The conditions required to maintain seed viability during storage are not well understood and there are conflicting reports as to whether the seed will retain viability in storage. Seed of M. hortensia stored at 7.5% seed moisture content showed no decline in viability after 21 months, but seed stored at 9.5% seed moisture content showed a significant (P < 0.05) loss of viability after 9 months storage. The composition of the seed storage reserves of M. hortensia was assessed using transmission electron microscopy. The storage reserves were found to be predominately lipid (24%) and protein with no starch reserves detected. Gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters derived from the lipid storage reserves identified a high percentage (9%) of the commercially important γ‐linolenic (cis, cis, cis‐6, 9, 12‐octadecatrienoic) acid. The decline in seed viability at relatively low seed moisture content is typical of oil storage seeds and consistent with orthodox seed behaviour.

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