Previous Page Table of Contents


CHAPTER 76. GERMINATION TEST ENVIRONMENTS AND DORMANCY-BREAKING TREATMENTS FOR SPECIES IN OTHER FAMILIES

This chapter provides a summary of recommended germination test procedures and dormancy-breaking treatments for seeds of species within more than 70 families which have not been included in the previous chapters. Some caution may be needed when applying this information to diverse germplasm - see the comment on germination test prescriptions in Chapter 17. For several of the families listed here additional guidance on suitable dormancy-breaking treatments is available in Tables 17.1 and 17.2, Chapter 17.

The information in this chapter is not limited to those species showing orthodox seed storage behaviour: germination test procedures are also provided for species which are believed to exhibit recalcitrant seed storage characteristics. This is provided to assist both those handling recalcitrant seeds in short-term storage (moist and warm or cool environments), e.g. when collecting or transporting material, and those wishing to improve our knowledge of the physiology of these seeds with a view to increasing the periods for which they can be conserved. For more information on the recalcitrant seeds see the references listed in Chapter 1, Volume I.

TABLE 76.1 Summary of germination test recommendations for species within families not considered in the previous chapters

Species and Authority

Substrate

Temperature

Duration

Additional directions

Source





ACANTHACEAE


Crossandra infundibuliformis (L.) Nees

TP

20°/30°C

28d

light

AOSA

Thunbergia alata Bojer

 

BP; TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d


ISTA

BP

20°/30°C

12d


AOSA




ACERACEAE


Acer palmatum Thunb.

TP; S

20°C

21d

pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 4m, remove pericarp

ISTA

Acer platanoides L.

TP; S

20°C

21d

pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 2m, remove pericarp

ISTA

Acer pseudoplatanus L.

TP; S

20°C

21d

pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 2m, remove pericarp

ISTA

Acer rubrum L.

TP; S

20°C

21d


ISTA

Acer saccharinum L.

TP; S

20°C

21d


ISTA

Acer saccharum Marsh.

TP; S

20°C

21d

pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 2m, remove pericarp

ISTA

Acer spp.

TP

18°-22°C

14d

excise embryos, or remove pericarp and pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 2m

AOSA




warm stratification, 25°C, 4w, and/or pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 4-24w

G&R




AIZOACEAE


Dorotheanthus bellidiformus (Burm.f.) N.E. Br.

 

TP; BP

15°C; 20°C

35d

pre-chill, potassium nitrate

ISTA

TP

15°C

16d


AOSA

Mesembryanthemum criniflorum L.


15°C

28d

not sensitive to light

Atwater

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.


20°C

21d

pierce centre of seed

Atwater

Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pall.) Kuntze

BP; S

20°/30°C; 20°C

35d

remove pulp, pre-wash

ISTA

S

10°/30°C

28d

keep substratum on dry side

AOSA

BP

15°C

21d

remove pulp

AOSA

S

10°/20°C

35d

pre-wash

Fornerod




AMARYLLIDACEAE


Hippeastrum hybridum Hort.

 

TP; BP

20°/30°C

28d


ISTA




APOCYNACEAE


Carissa spp.



16d

pre-soak, 24h

Riley

Catharanthus roseus (L.) Don

 

TP; BP

20°/30°C

23d

light, maintain good moisture supply

AOSA


20°/30°C

14d


Atwater

Vinca minor L.

 

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d


ISTA




ARALIACEAE


Brassaia actinophylla Endl.


20°C

40d


Atwater

Cussonia spicata Thunb.


20°C

50d

dormant seeds remain

Atwater

Dizygotheca elegantissima Vig. & Guill.

 

TP; BP

20°/30°C

28d


ISTA


20°C

40d


Atwater

Fatsia japonica Decne. & Planch.

 

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

28d


ISTA


20°C

21d


Atwater




ASCLEPIADACEAE


Asclepias tuberosa L.

 

TP

10°/30°C

14d

light, pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 21d

AOSA




BALSAMINACEAE


Impatiens balsamina L.

 

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill, potassium nitrate

ISTA

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

8d

light, potassium nitrate

AOSA


25°/35°C; 20°C; 25°C

10d

pre-chill, 5°C, 2w, or GA, 50mg/1, or clip

Atwater

Impatiens wallerana Hook.f.

 

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

pre-chill, potassium nitrate

ISTA

TP

20°C

18d

light, avoid higher temperatures

AOSA


20°C

21d

potassium nitrate, higher temperatures unfavourable

Atwater




BEGONIACEAE


Begonia evansiana Andr.


29°C


light, 12h/d, 6d

Atwater

Begonia semperflorens Link & Otto

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

pre-chill

ISTA

Begonia x tuberhybrida Voss

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

pre-chill

ISTA

Begonia spp.

 

TP

20°/30°C

16d

light

AOSA


20°/30°C

14d

fluorescent light, 12h/d, 430 lux

Atwater




BERBERIDACEAE


Berberis thunbergii DC.

TP

18°-22°C

10-14d

excise embryos

AOSA

Berberis vulgaris L.

TP

18°-22°C

10-14d

excise embryos

AOSA

Berberis spp.




pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 6-13w

G&R

Mahonia aquifolium Nutt.

 




pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 6-13w

G&R




BOMBACACEAE


Durio zibethinus Murr.

 

S

25°-35°C

35d

light, continuous

CHML




BORAGINACEAE


Amsinickia intermedia

TP

20°C



M&O

Anchusa azurea Mill.

 

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d


ISTA

TP; BP

20°/30°C

14d


AOSA


20°/30°C

21d

dormant seeds present

Atwater

Anchusa capensis Thunb.

 

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 15°C

21d


ISTA

TP

15°C

16d

sensitive to temperatures above 15°C

AOSA


15°C

21d

dormant seeds present

Atwater

Borago officinalis L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d


ISTA

TP

20°C

10d

light

AOSA

TP

20°C

10d


Heit

Brunnera macrophylla (Adams) Johnston

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d


ISTA

TP

20°/30°C

21d


AOSA


20°/30°C

40d

dormant seeds present

Atwater

Cynoglossum amabile Stapf & Drumm.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d

light, pre-chill, potassium nitrate

ISTA

TP; BP

20°/30°C

10d

light, potassium nitrate

AOSA


15°C

21d

potassium nitrate, 0.2%

Atwater

Echium fastuosum Jacq.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d


ISTA


20°C

14d

excise embryos

Atwater

Echium lycopus L.




excise embryos

Atwater

Echium plantagineum L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d


ISTA

Heliotropium arborescens L.

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d


ISTA


20°/30°C

21d

light, potassium nitrate, 0.2%

Atwater

Heliotropium spp.

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light

AOSA

Myosotis alpestris F.W. Schmidt

TP

20°C

12d

sensitive to drying out in test

AOSA

Myosotis hybrida Hort.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 15°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Myosotis scorpioides L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 15°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°C

12d

sensitive to drying out in test

AOSA


20°C

14d

light, potassium nitrate, 0.2%

Atwater

Myosotis sylvatica Ehrh. ex Hoffm.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 15°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA




BUXACEAE


Simmondsia chinensis


26°C

7d

pre-soak, 24h

Riley




CACTACEAE


Cactaceae

TP

20°/30°C

18d

light, good moisture supply

AOSA

Carnegiea gigantea (Engelm.) Britt. & Rose

TP

20°/30°C

20d

light, good moisture supply

AOSA


20°/30°C

14d

light

Atwater

Cereus peruvianus Mill.



14d

light

Riley

Echinocereus engelmanii (Perry ex Engelm.) Ruempl.


20°/30°C

14d

fluorescent light, 12h/d

Atwater

Ferocactus wislizenii (Engelm.) Britt. & Rose

TP

20°/30°C

10d

light, good moisture supply

AOSA


20°/30°C

14d

light

Atwater

Opuntia tuna (L.) Mill.


20°C

65d

light, clip seeds

Atwater




CAMPANULACEAE


Campanula carpatica Jacq.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°/30°C

16d

light

AOSA

Campanula fragilis Cyr.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Campanula garganica Ten.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Campanula glomerata L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Campanula lactiflora Bieb.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Campanula medium L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

12d


AOSA

Campanula persicifolia L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°/30°C

16d

light

AOSA

Campanula portenschlagiana Schult.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Campanula pyramidalis L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Campanula rapunculus L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Legousia speculum-veneris (L.) Chaix

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) DC.

TP

20°/30°C

21d

light

AOSA




CAPPARIDACEAE


Cleome hasslerana Chodat

TP

20°/30°C

14d

light, potassium nitrate, sensitive to low temperatures

AOSA


20°/30°C

28d

clip seeds

Atwater

Cleome pungens Willd.

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

28d

potassium nitrate

ISTA




CAPRIFOLIACEAE


Sambucus glauca Nutt.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 16w

G&R

Sambucus nigra L.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 10w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 12w

G&R

Sambucus racemosa L.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 10w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 12w

G&R

Sambucus spp.



30d

scarify, abrade with sand, or file or nick seed coat, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 90d

Riley

Symphoricarpos rivularis Suks.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 12-16w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 18-26w

G&R

Viburnum lantana L.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, but no satisfactory method for overcoming dormancy

G&R

Viburnum lentago L.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, but no satisfactory method for overcoming dormancy

G&R

Viburnum opulus L.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, but no satisfactory method for overcoming dormancy

G&R

Viburnum trilobum Marsh.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, but no satisfactory method for overcoming dormancy

G&R




CARYOPHYLLACEAE


Agrostemma githago

TP

20°C

5d


SGCF

Agrostemma spp.


20°C

14d


Atwater

Arenaria serpyllifolia

TP

15°C


light

M&O

Cerastium tomentosum L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

potassium nitrate

ISTA

TP

15°C

14d

light, potassium nitrate

AOSA


20°C

21d

light

Atwater

Cerastium vulgatum

TP

20°/30°C

7d

potassium nitrate, pre-chill

SGCF

TP

20°/30°C


light

M&O

Dianthus x allwoodii Hort. Allwood

TP

20°C

8d


AOSA

Dianthus barbatus L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d

pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°C

8d


AOSA

Dianthus caryophyllus L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d

pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°C

8d

problem of broken seedlings

AOSA

Dianthus chinensis L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d

pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°C

7d

problem of broken seedlings

AOSA

Dianthus deltoides L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d

pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°/30°C

10d

light

AOSA

Dianthus plumarius L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

14d

pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°C

7d


AOSA

Dianthus spp.


20°C

10d


Atwater

Gypsophila elegans Bieb.

TP; BP

15°C; 20°C

14d

light

ISTA

TP

20°C

7d

light, potassium nitrate

AOSA

TP

15°C

8d

if sensitive to temperatures above 18°C

AOSA


20°C

14d


Atwater

Gypsophila elegans Bieb. var carminea


15°C

14d

potassium nitrate, 0.2%

Atwater

Gypsophila pacifica Kom.

TP

15°C

8d

sensitive to temperatures above 18°C

AOSA

Gypsophila paniculata L.

TP; BP

15°C; 20°C

14d

light

ISTA

TP

20°C

7d

light, potassium nitrate

AOSA

Gypsophila repens L.

TP; BP

15°C; 20°C

14d

light

ISTA

TP

15°C

8d

sensitive to temperatures above 18°C

AOSA

Lychnis alba Mill.

TP

20°/30°C

7d

potassium nitrate

SGCF

TP

23°/30°C


light, during period at 23°C

R&S

TP

20°/30°C



M&O

Lychnis chalcedonica L.

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d

light

ISTA

TP

20°/30°C

14d

light

AOSA

Lychnis coronaria (L.) Desr.

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

TP

20°/30°C

14d

light

AOSA


20°/30°C

14d


Atwater

TP

20°/30°C


light

M&O

Lychnis viscaria L.

TP

20°/30°C

14d

light

AOSA

Saponaria calabrica Guss.

TP; BP

10°C; 15°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

Saponaria ocymoides L.

TP; BP

10°C; 15°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

TP

15°C

16d

sensitive to warm temperatures

AOSA


15°C

21d

potassium nitrate, 0.2%

Atwater

Saponaria officinalis L.

TP; BP

10°C; 15°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA

TP

20°/30°C

14d

pre-chill, 1w, plus potassium nitrate

SGCF

Saponaria vaccaria L.

TP

15°C; 20°C



M&O

Saponaria vaccaria pyramidata Medic.

TP

15°C

16d

sensitive to warm temperatures

AOSA

Silene conoidea

TP

20°/30°C



M&O

Silene cseri

TP

20°/30°C; 15°C; 20°C



M&O

Silene noctiflora

TP; S

20°/30°C

14d

light

Everson

TP

20°/30°C

7d


SGCF

Silene pendula L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

28d

potassium nitrate

ISTA

Silene spp.


20°C

10d

light

Atwater

Spergula arvensis L.

TP

20°C

10d


ISTA

Stellaria media

TP

20°/30°C

7d

potassium nitrate

SGCF

Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert

TP; BP

10°C; 15°C

21d

light, pre-chill

ISTA




CASUARINACEAE


Casuarina spp.

TP; BP

20°/30°C

14d

light

AOSA




CELASTRACEAE


Celastrus spp.

TP

18°-22°C

10-14d

excise embryos

AOSA

Euonymus europaea L.

TP

20°/30°C

28d

pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 45d

ISTA




warm stratification, 25°C, 8-12w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 8-16w

G&R




CISTACEAE


Cistus incanus L.


20°C

21d

pre-soak, warm water, 24h

Atwater

Helianthemum nummularium (L.) Mill.

TP; BP

20°/30°C; 20°C

28d

potassium nitrate

ISTA

Helianthemum spp.


15°C

28d

dormant seeds present

Atwater




CORNACEAE


Cornus alba L.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 12-14w

G&R

Cornus amomum Mill.



21d

pre-chill/warm stratification, cycle, 120d

Riley

Cornus controversa Hemsl.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 8-12w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 8-12w

G&R

Cornus drummondii Mey.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 4-8w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 4-8w

G&R

Cornus florida L.

TP; BP

20°/30°C

28d

pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 90-120d

AOSA

TP

18°-22°C

10d

excise embryos

AOSA


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 12-14w

G&R

Cornus kousa Hance


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 12-14w

G&R

Cornus mas L.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 16w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 4-16w

G&R



21d

pre-chill/warm stratification, cycle, 120d

Riley

Cornus nuttallii Audubon


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 12-14w

G&R

Cornus sanguinea L.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 8w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 8-12w

G&R

Cornus stolonifera Michx.

TP

18°-22°C

10d

pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 90d, excise embryos

AOSA




CORYLACEAE


Alnus cordata (Lois.) Duby

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

Alnus incana (L.) Moench

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

Alnus rubra Bong.

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

Alnus spp.




pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 4w

G&R

Betula papyrigera Marsh.

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

Betula pendula Roth

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

Betula pubescens Ehrh.

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

Betula spp.

TP

20°/30°C

21d

light

AOSA


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 4w

G&R

Carpinus betulus L.

S

20°C

42d

warm stratification, 20°C, 1m, then pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 4m

ISTA


15°/25°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 4w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 12-14w

G&R

Carpinus caroliniana Walt.




warm stratification, 25°C, 8w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 8w

G&R

Corylus americana Marsh.



30d

pre-chill/warm stratification, cycle

Riley

Corylus avellana L.

S

20°/30°C; 20°C

35d

remove pericarp, pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 2m

ISTA




pre-soak, cold water, 2d, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 12-16w

G&R



30d

pre-chill/warm stratification, cycle

Riley

Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 8w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 16-20w

G&R

Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) Koch


20°/30°C


light, 8h/d, warm stratification, 25°C, 8w, then pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 16-20w

G&R




CRASSULACEAE


Kalanchoe blossfeldiana von Poellnitz

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d


ISTA

TP

20°C

16d

light, continuous

AOSA

Kalanchoe crenata Haw.

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d


ISTA

Kalanchoe globulifera Perrier

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

21d


ISTA

Sedum acre L.

TP

15°C

14d

light, 8h/d or more

AOSA

Sedum spp.


20°C

10d

light

Atwater

Sempervivum spp.

TP

20°C

14d

light, 8h/d or more

AOSA




CUPRESSACEAE


Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin

TP

20°/30°C

28d

pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 28d

ISTA

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl.

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

28d


ISTA

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach

TP

20°/30°C; 20°C

28d

pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 21d

ISTA

Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. & Zucc.

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

Chamaecyparis pisifera Sieb. & Zucc.

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

Chamaecyparis thyoides BSP

TP

20°C

28d

pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 90d

ISTA

Chamaecyparis spp.

TP

20°C

28d

potassium nitrate

AOSA

Cupressus arizonica Greene

TP

20°/30°C

28d

two tests: with and without pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 21d

ISTA

TP

20°/30°C

28d

light, pre-chill, 20d

AOSA

Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw.

TP

20°/30°C

35d


ISTA

Cupressus sempervirens L.

TP

20°C

28d


ISTA

Juniperus communis L.

TP; S

20°C

28d

pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 90d

ISTA



60d

pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 30-60d

Riley

Juniperus occidentalis



60d

pre-chill, 1°-5°C, 30-60d

Riley

Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.

TP; S

15°C

42d

warm stratification, 20°C, 60d, then, pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 40d

ISTA

Juniperus virginiana L.

TP; S

15°C

28d

warm stratification, 20°C, 60d, then, pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 45d

ISTA

Libocedrus decurrens Torr.

TP; BP

20°/30°C

28d

pre-chill, 3°-5°C, 30d

AOSA

Thuja occidentalis L.

TP

20°/30°C

21d


ISTA

TP

20°/30°C

21d

light

AOSA

Thuja orientalis L.

TP

20°C

21d