The Requirement far Additional Water-The Paradox for Desiccation Stress in Wet-Stored Seeds
The requirement for additional water is in accordance with the model proposed by Farrant et al. (1986, 1988) and in a modified form by B€dak et al. (1989), where it was suggested that this too underlies the increasing desiccation sensitivity exhibited by many recalcitrant propagules in wet storage.
That is, as the required water content increases, so does the lethal minimum water content. It is relevant that orthodox dormant seeds stored fully hydrated will retain viability for extended periods (Villiers, t973, lg74).
under such conditions, although the embryos are metabolically active, they are most surely not germinating and thus can be presumed not to have demands for additional water required for the extensive vacuolation and cell enlargement involved.