Araucaria & Agathis seed germination and storage

22 years ago

Writing from the U.S. (the State of Georgia), I just discovered the Australian Gardenweb. Maybe, you all can help me.

I recently collected seed for various Araucaria species (cunninghamia, columnaris, bidwillii, rulei, angustifolia) and two Agathis species (robusta, australis). I'm not having much luck with germination, however. I'm not sure the A. bidwillii seed are mature, but the others are and not over-mature either, as best I can determine.

Any advice regarding germination and storage?

Thanks for your thoughts.

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Comments (4)

conifer_nut
22 years ago
Hi araucquoia.I noticed you had no replies as yet.I can't help with your question personally.Have you tried a post on the main international Gardenweb site?I'm interested in whatever replies you receive. Good luck. C.N.
CoralCoast_Tropicals
22 years ago
Arauquoia,

Have just noticed your post. I germinated A. bidwillii (Bunya Pine) once and found that it can take anywhere between 1 and 5 years to germinate. A. cunninghamii (Hoop Pine) seems to be a little quicker, I have some large trees in the reserve across the street from my place and there are numerous young trees sprouting underneath the main trees. I think that they will store well as they are native to our 'drier' subtropical and tropical rainforest areas and as such will remain viable for much longer than many other rainforest species. I don't think that refrigeration would be an option though.

In regards to Agathis. Agathis australis is the New Zealand Kauri Pine and I don't know much about it except that it comes from the temperate north island of New Zealand. Agathis robusta (Queensland Kauri) comes from the tropical and subtropical rainforests of Queensland but I don't know how long their seed takes to germinate.

Andrew.
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On the subject of germination, I just thought to dip into a book I own, 'Seeds of woody plants in North America' by Young & Young, revised edition, Dioscorides Press 1992. It has a ton of information about Araucaria seed. You should try to find it in a library, but just in case you can't it includes the following points: 1. viability is generally short-lived, but A. cunninghamii is the species that best tolerates desiccation of seeds, viable at moisture content down to 2% whereas some other spp. won't survive desiccation below 25%, with an intermediate group of spp. not below 12%. Cool storage prolongs seed life. 2. no pre-treatment is required. "Under suitable moisture and temperature conditions (20 to 30 deg C), germination may begin about 10 days after sowing." I suspect the most important question is, how good is your seed, and is it sufficiently fresh?
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I just discovered this Araucaria converstion and wanted to add my experience. Andrew with regards to your initial posting...I only soak my Araucaria seeds for 24 hrs...the ones that sink...usually have the greatest chance for germination...for the seeds that don't sink...I wait about 12 hrs and then soak them for another 24 hrs...most of the time you will find more sinkers. I plant all of the seeds...and have been surprised to find that some of the non-sinkers did germinate. I think that prolonged soaking will kill the seed...so to speak. I've had some Araucaria actually germinate during the soaking process...examples are the A. araucana, A. angustifolia and A. bidwillii. With regards to sowing the seeds...without exception I cover all Araucaria seeds with a small amount of soil...about 1/4 - 1/2 inch. During the cooler months I use heating mats set at about 75 F. Of all the species I grow: A. araucana, A. angustifolia, A. bidwillii, A. cunninghamii, A. columnaris, A. montana and A. hetrophyllla...I have found that almost without exception some will begin germination within 2-3 weeks....but more importantly...don't give up on the remaining seeds that have not shown any signs of germination...I currently have some that are lagging 3 months behind those that have already germinated. Pictures: #1 - a forest of A. angustifolia, #2 - A. araucana (Left) and A. angustifolia (Right), #3 - A. bidwillii getting ready to be moved up to taller pots, #4 - a display of Araucaria seeds.
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Wooroonooran
22 years ago
Andrew,
regarding Bunya Pine germination.
The seed germinates and the radicle produces a swollen root underground. If you dig up the swollen root after the seed has detached from the shoot and place it about 1/2 a cm out of the ground, it will grow immediately.
Using this method, the initiation and growth of Bunya Pine can be decreased to no longer than 4 months.
Kris
Jane_23
22 years ago
A cunninghamii has very short viability and fresh seed usually germinates readily. Good luck with A robusta - not sure on that one as it is difficult for us to get seed - most trees in remnant around here are too tall!!
Jane

Araucaria & Agathis seed germination and storage

Comments (4)

conifer_nut

CoralCoast_Tropicals

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Wooroonooran

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