| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Hickman, George [1], Levenda, Elizabeth [1], Coons, Janice [1], Coutant, Nancy [1]. Effects of Stratification on Seed Germination of Seven Sand Prairie Species. Restoration efforts of sand prairies are hindered by a lack of information on breaking seed dormancy in species native to those areas. Our objective was to determine an effective method to break seed dormancy using stratification for seven sand prairie species (Aristida lanosa, Asclepias amplexicaulis, Cyperus grayoides, Helianthus angustifolius, Hypericum adpressum, Monarda punctata and Polygonella americana). Seeds were collected from southeastern Missouri. Seeds were moist stratified at 4°C (except M. punctata was dry stratified ) for 0 to 3.5 months. For A. lanosa and P. americana, three media also were used (sand, sphagnum or a 50/50 mixture). Other species were placed in the 50/50 mixture. After stratification, seeds were placed in Petri dishes on moistened filter paper with 4 replications of 25 seeds for each treatment. Dishes were placed in a seed germinator at 25°C with continuous light. Germinated seeds were counted after 4-6 weeks. Arcsin transformed data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by mean separation with a Duncan’s multiple range test. For A. lanosa and P. americana, media type did not affect germination percentages. For A. amplexicaulis and H. angustifolius, germination percentages were lower with no stratification (1% and 25%, respectively), than when stratified for 2 (85% and 54%, respectively) or 3 months (65% and 57%, respectively). For M. punctata, germination was not significantly different between control (8%) and dry stratified (5%) seeds. For A. lanosa, stratification time and the interaction of time with media were significant. For P. americana, stratification did not affect germination with less than or equal to 3% for all treatments. C. grayoides and H. adpressum had no germination. Hence, stratification enhanced germination for three of the seven species tested. Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - Eastern Illinois University, Biological Sciences, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, Illinois, 61920, USA
Keywords: prairie restoration sand prairie native species stratification Seed dormancy.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections Session: P Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007 Time: 8:00 AM Number: P49022 Abstract ID:2137 |