Pre-treatment at controlled seed moisture content as an effective means to break dormancy in tree seeds.

It is shown that controlling the moisture content of seeds is a very effective method of preventing germination of non-dormant seeds during pre-treatment, while still allowing the remaining seeds to respond to chilling temperatures until even the most dormant seeds are ready to germinate. After sowing, germination is rapid and uniform because the variability in cold requirement within the seedlot is overcome. Germination also occurs under a greater temperature range, allowing for less critical sowing conditions.