Effect of seed coverings and seed pretreatments on the germination response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus glutinosa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pubescens</Emphasis> seeds |
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Authors: | Norberto De Atrip Conor O’Reilly |
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Institution: | (1) School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland |
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Abstract: | The germination of common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and downey birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) seeds is often poor in bare-root nurseries. The effect of a variety of seed coverings and a few seed pretreatments
on seedling emergence was examined in this study in an attempt to address this problem. Seeds of each species were sown in
trays containing nursery soil, covered with grit, gravel, sand, combinations of these coverings, a hydromulch or a sealed
plastic cloche and then incubated for 6 weeks at 17–20°C. The grit combined with sand or gravel, the hydromulch and the cloche
increased seedling emergence when compared with the standard grit. In another experiment, seeds of each species were fully
imbibed (FI) (>50% moisture content, MC), as per standard practice, or adjusted to target MC (TMC) (30–35% MC) levels, and
then chilled to release dormancy. Some seeds of each MC treatment were primed at 20°C for 2 days following chilling, after
which all seeds were evaluated in laboratory tests and a nursery trial. Germination potential of the FI seeds declined in
the lab tests by the second test date, which was reflected in low seedling emergence in the nursery in birch. The primed FI
seeds of alder germinated most rapidly in the nursery, but other effects were not significant. Seedling emergence was better
in the nursery in response to the TMC than the FI pretreatment in birch.
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Keywords: | Alnus glutinosa Betula pubescens Seedling production Seed covering Seed pretreatment Seed germination |
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