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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Plant Introduction Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #80860
Title: GERMINATION REPORTS OF UNCOMMONLY CULTIVATED WOODY PLANTS FROM THE NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL PLANT INTRODUCTION STATION, 1984-1996

Author
item Widrlechner, Mark
item Ovrom, Arthur

Submitted to: North American Regions Plant Propagator
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Attempts to germinate the seeds of woody plants uncommonly cultivated in North America have been documented at the USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) since 1984. Many of those records are routine, duplicating germination protocols published in widely available compendia. But for some species, which were successfully germinated, little or no information has been published. This report summarizes experiences with those seeds at the NCRPIS, by outlining the pregermination treatments employed and the results for 86 seed lots representing 29 different woody plant genera. These germination protocols generally resembled those recommended in the literature for related taxa. Germination records for three genera (Atraphaxis, Jamesia, and Microbiota) may represent the first published reports of successful protocols. Fifty-seven seedlings were germinated from a 200-seed sample of Atraphaxis spinosa that had received a 14-day moist prechill at 3 degrees C and then was placed in a 20/30 degrees C germinator. Approximately 30% of two large (800+) seed samples of Jamesia americana germinated in a heated greenhouse (ca. 20/30 degrees C) without pretreatment. And between 25 and 50% of two samples of Microbiota decussata germinated after receiving 90-day moist prechilling and transfer to a heated greenhouse.