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Title: INFLUENCE OF STORAGE TIME AND STORAGE CONDITIONS ON COMPARATIVE GERMINATION OF EASTERN GAMAGRASS SEED IN THE GREENHOUSE AND LABORATORY

Author
item Krizek, Donald
item Camp, Mary
item MAXON, SUSAN - AMS
item DAVIS, KATHLEEN - NRCS
item Ritchie, Jerry
item McCloud, Miguel
item CLINE, JAMES - FORMER USDA

Submitted to: Eastern Native Grass Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2002
Publication Date: 10/3/2002
Citation: Krizek, D.T., Camp, M.J., Maxon, S., Davis, K.M., Ritchie, J.C., McCloud, M.L., Cline, J. 2002. Influence of storage time and storage conditions on comparative germination of eastern gamagrass seed in the greenhouse and laboratory [abstract]. Eastern Native Grass Symposium. p. 19.

Interpretive Summary: .

Technical Abstract: Previous studies reported at the 2nd Eastern Native Grass Symposium indicated that 1998 and 1999 seed lots of Germtec II TM treated seed of eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L] showed a decline in germination over a six-month period (March to Sept 1999). The study was repeated three times in 2000 using 1998, 1999, and 2000 seed lots of the above seed stored at 4C to determine the number of days for maximum germination. Germination tests were conducted in ARS and NRCS greenhouses, using a peat-vermiculite mix. Storage time was found to have a significant effect on time and rate of germination. The average days for maximum germination of 1998 and 1999 seed lots were comparable, viz., 20.5 and 21.6 days, which was shorter than that for 2000, viz. 33.3 days. The time to reach 25 percent germination for the 1998, 1999, and 2000 seed lots was 8.1, 9.2 and 15.0 days, respectively and the average percentage germination nat day 28 for the three seed lots was 36.8, 25.6 and 26.4, respectively. This was about half the germination compared to results obtained in a private seed testing laboratory in GA and two State Seed Testing Laboratories in MO and NC, using water controls and an additional lot of 2000 seed that had been stored at room temperature vs 4C. As in the greenhouse, the 1998 seed lot had a significantly higher percentage of germination than the 2000 seed lots (regardless of storage condition for the 2000 seed). These results indicate: (1) that the 2000 seed lot may have developed physiological and/or morphological barriers to germination during maturation; (2) that a long period of storage time does not necessarily have an adverse effect on germination results; and (3) that 21 days may be sufficient for running germination tests on this species.