Seed

What is seed propagation?

Seed propagation is sexual plant propagation: a new plant develops from a seed produced after pollination and fertilization. Unlike vegetative propagation, the resulting plant is generally not a genetic copy of its parent. This genetic variation can be desirable, but it also means that particular fruit, growth or other cultivar traits may not be preserved.

When is it useful?

Seed propagation is often a simple and economical way to produce many plants. For many species it is also their normal or most practical means of reproduction. It is less suitable when an exact copy of a selected plant is required or when viable seed is difficult to obtain.

Basic procedure

1. Use mature, viable seed from healthy plant material or a reliable source.
2. Clean the seed where necessary and determine whether it should be sown immediately or can be stored.
3. Check whether the species requires a special treatment to overcome dormancy, such as soaking, scarification or stratification.
4. Sow at a depth and in a medium appropriate for the species.
5. Maintain suitable moisture, temperature and aeration. Some species also have specific light requirements for germination.
6. After germination, provide the seedlings with adequate light and growing conditions and transplant them when sufficiently established.

Fresh seed and storage

Seed behaviour differs greatly between species. Many common seeds tolerate drying and can be stored under cool, dry conditions. Other species, including a number of tropical plants, produce seeds that rapidly lose viability when dried or stored. Such seeds should normally be sown fresh. Always follow the species-specific information rather than assuming that every seed can be dried and stored.

Dormancy and pretreatment

A viable seed does not necessarily germinate immediately. Hard seed coats or physiological dormancy may require species-specific pretreatment. Scarification breaks or weakens a resistant seed coat, while stratification exposes seed to particular moist temperature conditions for a period of time. These treatments should only be used when appropriate for the species.

Genetic variation

Seed-grown plants may differ from their parents. This is important for fruit trees, hybrids and selected cultivars where fruit quality, sex, growth habit or other traits matter. When preservation of the characteristics of one particular plant is the goal, a suitable vegetative propagation method may be preferable.

Important

Seed longevity, sowing depth, dormancy, germination temperature and the best time for transplanting vary considerably between species. Always check the species-specific propagation information before sowing.