© 1986 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Germination of Eucalyptus sieberi, L. Johnson seeds. I. Response to substrate and atmospheric moisture
Ann Gibson and E. P. Bachelard
Department of Forestry, Australian National University, GPO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia / Received November 22, 1985
Summary
Consistent germination of Eucalyptus sieberi L. Johnson seeds required a low vapor pressure deficit (< 5 × 10–6 MPa) and a high matric water potential (> –5 × 10–3 MPa). Eucalyptus sieberi seeds, under moist but less favorable conditions, were unable to germinate but underwent changes that enabled them to germinate
more rapidly when suitable conditions occurred. Such pregerminative development was interrupted but not reversed by a dry
period as long as eight months. This may explain how seeds of this species germinate successfully on the surface of exposed
seedbeds subject to intermittent drying.
