9

Seed Storage and

Deterioration

Seeds are uniquely equipped to survive as viable regenerative organisms until the time and
place are right for the beginning of a new generation; however, like any other fonn of life, they
cannot retain their viability indefmitely and eventually deteriorate and die. Fortunately, neither
nature nor agricultural practice ordinarily requires seeds to survive longer than the next growing
season, though seeds of most species are able to survive much longer under the proper
conditions.

THE LIFE SPAN OF SEEDS

Long~Lived Seeds

Museum botanists in Canada reported the germination oflupin seeds that had been buried
deep in a Canadian peat bog for an estimated 10,000 years (Porsild and Harrington 1967). This
is the longest known record for safe seed storage even with a literature that abounds with
evidences of long seed storage (Justice and Bann 1978). Germinating Indian lotus seeds from
a Manchurian lake bed were first estimated to be 120 to 400 years old (Ohga 1926), but were
later found, using radiocarbon dating, to be over 1000 years old (Libby 1951). At the National
Museum of Paris, viable seeds of several species that had been collected 100 to 160 years
previously were found (BecquereI1934). Frequently, one hears of reports of gennination ofthe
so-called "mummy" seed from Egyptian tombs; however, these reports have not been
substantiated.
Many long-tenn storage studies are in progress in the United States. These have already
provided considerable data on the seed longevity of many species. The two oldest and best-
known studies are those founded by Beal in 1879 at Michigan State University and Duvel of the
United States Department of Agriculture in 1902. In both studies, seeds buried in soil continue
to germinate demonstrating the remarkable life span of many seeds (Figure 9.1).

L. O. Copeland et al., Principles of Seed Science and Technology

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 2001
 Limit of longevity (years) ~
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 ~
~
r ________ --Jill ~
Polygonaceae:
Polygonum ,hydroplper
~
Rumex crispus
-- - - - - - -- -- ~
Portulacaceae:
Portulaca oleracea ---_..::::::=- ~
Caryophyllaceae:
~
Agroslemma gilhago ~
Siellaria media ~.
Amaranthaceae:
Amaranlhus retroliexus g'
-----.:::~
Brassica nigra --
Cruciferae:
Capsella bursa'paslorls ~:-:-:::::::::::::i::
Lepidium virgmicum _
Leguminosae:
Trifolium repens
••••
Euphorbiaceae.
Euphorbia maculata
Malvaceae:
Malva pusilia
Onagraceae:
-
..:.:::::=-=:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:::::::.:.:.::::::::=--
Oenolhera blennis
Scrophulariaceae:
Verbascum spp.
Plantaginaceae:
Plantago major
. -::: :::::=-:::.:..-----------
c::::=-: :::::.::::::::..
Compositae:
Ambrosia arlemisilfolia r::::::::::::::::::~
Anthemis cotula
Erechtiles hieracifolla
Gramineae:
Bromus secalinus
Setaria pumlla I
Figure 9.1. Limits of longevity for seeds in Beal's burial experiment. Germination tests were performed every five years for the first 40 years and
every 10 years thereafter. Dashed Jines indicate test periods when no positive germinations were noted "Verbascum spp." indicates V. thapsus
and/or V. blattaria (From Priestley 1986). ..-
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