Maturity and Viability of Seed From Squirrel-Cut Pine Cones
The viability of pine seed from cones cached by red squirrels was compared with the viability of seed collected weekly during August and September. Scots pine seed collected during the last three weeks of August exhibited poor but increasing germinability (24.3% – 77.0%), but seed collected in September showed high germinability (95.0% – 99.5%). The strategy of collecting cones before intensive harvesting by squirrels is therefore of limited utility. Scots, red, and jack pine cones recovered from squirrel caches yielded seed of acceptable quality (greater than 80% germinability in 9 of 10 collections). Recovering cones from squirrel caches is a practical and viable strategy in seed orchards and natural forests. We recommend that collections be made within one month of harvesting by the squirrels. Key words: pine seed, seed viability, seed maturity, seed orchard red squirrel management.