Abstract
An experiment was conducted to determine if sulfuric acid scarification improved seed germination of Callicarpa americana L. (Lamiaceae). Treatments included a control (0 min), 15-min, and 30-min soaks in concentrated (18N) sulfuric acid followed by a 15-min rinse in tap water. The 30-min treatment had the earliest germination with seedlings appearing 18 d after treatment (DAT). The 15-min treatment had seedlings emerge at 26 DAT while seedlings in the control did not begin to emerge until 60 DAT. After 60 d, seeds from the acid treatments had approximately 50% germination while the control had less than 10%. At the conclusion of the study, the control, 15-min, and 30-min acid treatments germinated at 8.9%, 57.8%, and 48.9%, respectively. The results of this study show the benefit of sulfuric acid scarification in the germination of Callicarpa americana. Recommendations should be amended to include a 15- to 30-min soak in concentrated sulfuric acid to promote rapid and more uniform germination for this species.
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