Embryo growth and seed germination of four taxa of Narcissus (section Pseudonarcissi) conserved under non‐recalcitrant seed conditions in germplasm banks

The aim of this study was to determine the germinative ability of the seeds of four Narcissus taxa belonging to Section Pseudonarcissi after they had been conserved under the conditions of non‐recalcitrant seed storage protocols. For each taxon (N. alcaracensis, N. longispathus, N. radinganorum and N. pseudonarcissus subsp. munozii‐garmendiae), one seed lot was desiccated to 4% moisture content (MC) and stored under laboratory conditions (22°C, 40–50% relative humidity (RH), whereas another was dehydrated to 3% MC and stored at −10°C. The latter treatment simulated standard conservation conditions for non‐recalcitrant seeds. After 26 months, embryo growth and germination were evaluated. Seed responses were correlated with their MC upon dispersal. Seeds of N. alcaracensis, N. longispathus and N. radinganorum left to dry on the mother plant during maturation had 8–10% MC when dispersed, tolerated non‐recalcitrant seed conservation and germinated to >90% under the most favorable incubation conditions. Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. munozii‐garmendiae seeds did not undergo maturation drying and had 46.7% MC upon dispersal. They reached 100% germination after being desiccated to 4% and stored at 22°C, were not recalcitrant, but failed to germinate when stored at −10°C under non‐recalcitrant seed conservation conditions. Therefore, N. alcaracensis, N. longispathus and N. radinganorum seeds can be conserved under non‐recalcitrant seed conditions in germplasm banks, whereas those of N. pseudonarcissus subsp. munozii‐garmendiae are moderately recalcitrant. Seed storage behavior is influenced primarily by the extent of maturation drying of the seeds on the mother plant. Germplasm banks around the world constitute a strategical tool for the conservation of plant diversity. We have determined the germinative ability of the seeds of four Narcissus taxa after they had been conserved under the conditions of non‐recalcitrant seed storage protocols. Our results strongly suggest that seed storage behavior is influenced primarily by the degree of maturation drying of seeds on the mother plant rather than their dormancy level.