Seed Germination And Sowing Options AFN 3 PDF

SEED GERMINATION AND SOWING OPTIONS =================================== #### 7.1. Seed Dormancy #### 7.2. Types of Seed Dormancy[^1^](#fn1){#fnref1.footnote-ref} {#types-of-seed-dormancy} #### 7.3. Determining Seed Dormancy Type #### 7.4. Treatments to Overcome Dormancy and Enhance Germination...

SEED GERMINATION AND SOWING OPTIONS =================================== #### 7.1. Seed Dormancy #### 7.2. Types of Seed Dormancy[^1^](#fn1){#fnref1.footnote-ref} {#types-of-seed-dormancy} #### 7.3. Determining Seed Dormancy Type #### 7.4. Treatments to Overcome Dormancy and Enhance Germination - Treat seeds that are dry and at room temperature. - Require workers to wear safety equipment, including face shield, goggles, thick rubber gloves, and full protective clothing. - Add acid to water, never water to acid. Immerse seeds in an acid-resistant container, such as a glass, for the duration required. - Stir seeds carefully in the acid bath; a glass rod works well. - Immerse the container with seeds and acid in an ice bath to keep temperatures at a safe level for the embryos (this temperature depends on the species; many do not need this step). - Remove seeds from the acid by slowly pouring the seed-acid solution into a larger volume of cool water, ideally one in which new, fresh water is continually being added. - Stir seeds during water rinsing to make sure all surfaces are thoroughly rinsed clean. #### 7.5. Germination Stimulators ##### Tips for Using Gibberellic Acid - Because gibberellic acid takes a long time to dissolve, stir it constantly or prepare it the day before use.  Store unused solution away from direct sunlight. - Using unbleached coffee filters cut the filters into squares and fold them diagonally to form a container. - Pour gibberellic acid solution evenly into an ice cube tray to a depth sufficient to cover the seeds. - Place each folded coffee filter containing the seeds into the wells of the tray. - After 24 hours, remove the seeds, rinse them with water and either sow them or prepare them for stratification. #### 7.6. Environmental Factors Influencing Germination #### 7.7. Seed Coverings (Mulch) - Create an ideal "moist but not saturated" environment around germinating seeds by making a break in the texture of the potting medium (water will not move from the medium into the mulch). - Keep seeds in place. This practice improves contact with the medium and minimizes the number of seeds washed out of the containers by irrigation or rainfall. - Reflect heat when mulches are light colored, so seeds do not get too hot on bright, sunny days. - Reduce the development of moss, algae, and liverworts 8. VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION ========================= - Seed propagation is difficult, very time consuming, or few viable seeds are produced. - Larger nursery stock is needed in a shorter period of time. - An individual, unique plant needs to be propagated. - There is a need to shorten time to flower for seed production. - A uniform stock type is needed. - Specific genotypes are desired. - Disease-free nursery stock is required. - Greater production costs than seed propagation, usually because of increased labor. - Reduced genetic diversity. - Specialized propagation structures may be required, depending on the species or time of year. - Develop a smooth production line, from the collection of material to the final product. - Train nursery staff how to properly collect, process, plant, and grow material. - Build a dibble for making holes in the rooting medium. - Control waste caused by poor propagation or growing practices. - Lift and harden cuttings properly to reduce mortality. - Develop a good system for overwintering cuttings. - Keep good records to improve your results and to document production costs. #### 8.1. Striking Cuttings #### 8.2. Shoot or Stem Cuttings 8.2.1. Hardwood Cuttings ###### Figure 8.1. Illustration of wood cutting categories 8.2.2. Softwood Cuttings 8.2.3. Semi-hardwood Cuttings #### 8.3. Root Cuttings #### 8.4. Considerations in Selecting Cuttings from Mother Plants #### 8.5. Striking, Monitoring, and Growing Cuttings - Wear gloves if the cuttings were treated with rooting hormones. - Maintain polarity (keep the correct end of the cutting up). - When using stem cuttings, make certain that at least two nodes are below the surface of the rooting medium. - If cuttings were wounded, make certain that wounded tissue is adequately covered with rooting hormone and is below the surface of the rooting medium. - Strike cuttings firmly in the rooting medium. Make certain to avoid air pockets around the base of the stem. - Try to strike cuttings within 1 to 2 days so that all the plants will have the same level of root development and thus can be hardened off properly prior to lifting. 8.5.1. Environmental Conditions for Direct Struck Cuttings 8.5.2. Environmental Conditions in Special Rooting Environments #### 8.6. Establishing Mother Plants at the Nursery ::: {.section.footnotes} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. ::: {#fn1} Baskin, C.C.; Baskin, J.M. 1998. Seeds: ecology, biogeography and evolution in dormancy and germination.San Diego, CA:Academic Press.666 p.[↩](#fnref1){.footnote-back} ::: 2. ::: {#fn2} Chambers, K.J.; Bowen, P.;Turner, N.J.; Keller, P.C. 2006. Ethylene improves germination of arrowleaved balsamroot seeds. Native Plants Journal 7: 108-113. Feghahati, S.M.J.; Reese, R.N. 1994. Ethylene-, light-, and prechill-enhanced germination of *Echinacea angustifolia* seeds. Journal of American Society of Horticultural Science 119(4): 853-858. Sari, A.O.; Morales, M.R.; Simon, J.E. 2001. Ethephon can overcome seed dormancy and improve seed germination in purple coneflower species *Echinacea angustifolia* and *E. pallida*. HortTechnology 11(2): 202-205.[↩](#fnref2){.footnote-back} ::: 3. ::: {#fn3} Landis, T.D.; Tinus, R.W.; Barnett, J.P. 1999.The container tree nursery manual: volume 6, seedling propagation. Agriculture Handbook 674.Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.167 p.[↩](#fnref3){.footnote-back} ::: 4. ::: {#fn4} Growth of a plant part at an oblique angle to a stimulus, such as gravity[↩](#fnref4){.footnote-back} ::: :::