Germination polymorphism in Rumex crispus. The effects of different storage conditions on germination responses of seeds collected from individual plants

Seeds from six individual plants of Rumex crispus L. were stored under four contrasting conditions of temperature and relative humidity for 6 mo to 5 years. After storage, all viable seeds germinated under conditions of diurnally alternating light and temperature but there were significant interplant differences in the number of seeds that germinated in continuous darkness at constant or alternating temperatures. Seeds stored at room temperature had less precise germination requirements than those stored under frozen or chilled conditions. Viability was retained for 5 years under all storage conditions except for samples from three parent plants stored under chilling temperatures and variable humidity where 10 to 60% of the seeds had died. Germination of seeds was more rapid after storage.This experiment demonstrated that variable storage conditions can have a distinct effect on the germination patterns of seeds of R. crispus. Moreover, seeds from different plants responded in different ways to storage under the same conditions. Also, germination patterns under one germination regime were not predictable on the basis of results under another regime.