
%0 Journal Article
%A Wardlaw, IF 
%A Dunstone, RL 
%T Effect of temperature on seed development in jojoba (<I>Simmondsia chinensis</I> (Link) Schneider). I. Dry matter changes
%J Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
%D 1984/10/01
%V 35
%N 5
%P 685-691
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9840685
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9840685 
%X Growth of the capsule and seed of jojoba were followed from pollination to maturity at eight temperature regimens ranging from 15/10 to 36/31¦C (8/16 h; photoperiod 16 h). There was an initial lag before the onset of rapid (linear) seed development, during which the capsule expanded, and this lag varied from 106 days at 15/10¦C to 7 days at 36/31¦C. The wax concentration in the seed was low during the initial stages of development, but reached a maximum when the seeds were 70-75% of their final dry weight. The maximum rate of dry matter accumulation in the seed increased with temperature up to 33/28¦C but, because of the longer growth period at low temperature, seed size at maturity was greatest at 18/13¦C. The current work suggests that prolonged periods with temperatures above 36/31¦C, or below 15/10¦C would be harmful to the development of jojoba seed. The high optimum temperature for growth rate of the seed (33/28¦C) and sensitivity to a temperature of 15/10¦C, puts jojoba into the same group as many subtropical species. However, the lower optimum temperature for seed weight at maturity (18/13¦C) is close to that observed for the temperate cereals. 
