Seed dormancy and storage behaviour in tropical Fabaceae: a study of 100 species from Sri Lanka

Seeds of legumes are generally considered to have physical dormancy and to be orthodox, but most seed biologists are unaware of the various kinds and combinations of dormancy and storage behaviour in seeds of this family. The aim of our study was to document the dormancy and storage behaviour of seeds of 100 native and introduced tropical Fabaceae species in Sri Lanka and classify them into germination/storage behaviour categories. Moisture content (MC) was < 16% for fresh seeds of 94 species and > 29% for those of six. Seeds of these six species had low tolerance for desiccation and for low temperatures. Thus, seeds of six species are non-orthodox and 94 species orthodox. Nine of the 100 species were non-dormant, and 2, 3 and 86 had physiological, physiological epicotyl and physical dormancy, respectively. Six germination/ storage behaviour categories were identified among the 100 species. However, as in extratropical regions of the world, orthodox storage behaviour and physical dormancy are characteristic of seeds of the majority of species of Fabaceae in tropical Sri Lanka.