Using flotation in ethanol to separate filled and empty seeds of <i>Pinus nigra</i> ssp. <i>pallasiana</i>

Abstract

In this study, the separation of filled and empty seeds of Crimean pine [Pinus nigra Arn. ssp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe] by flotation in ethanol and the effect of this treatment on seed germination were investigated. Flotation tests in 96% ethanol by the density method and then germination tests were made on the seeds from three Crimean pine provenances of southern Turkey. In the flotation tests, 97.92% of the filled seeds sank in ethanol and 98.73% of the sunken seeds were filled seeds as the general mean values of all the provenances. Germination percentages of the flotation in ethanol and control treatments were 98.03 and 98.62%, and germination energies were 82.12 and 79.45%,
respectively, in the general mean. While there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) between the flotation and control treatments in terms of germination percentage for all three provenances, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) for two provenances; however, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) for one provenance in favour of the flotation treatment in terms of germination energy. The results of the study indicated that filled seeds of Crimean pine could be
separated from empty seeds at a very high proportion by flotation in ethanol and this treatment did not affect negatively the germination percentage and germination energy of the seeds.