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Research ArticleRefereed Research

Evaluating seed viability in prairie forbs: a test of three methods

Jessica L Riebkes, Rebecca S Barak and Andrea T Kramer
Native Plants Journal, June 2015, 16 (2) 96-106; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/npj.16.2.96
Jessica L Riebkes
Undergraduate Student Central College 812 University Street Pella, IA 50219Tallgrass Prairie Center 2412 W 27th Street University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA 50614Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe IL 60022
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Rebecca S Barak
PhD Student, Program in Plant Biology and Conservation Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe IL 60022
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Andrea T Kramer
Conservation Scientist, Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe IL 60022
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Abstract

A fundamental aspect of establishing native plant species in restorations is ensuring that the seed used is viable. We test whether seed viability estimates for wild-collected seed of 4 forb species native to prairie habitat differ when using 3 methods: 1) germination, 2) tetrazolium, and 3) X-ray. Study species include Eryngium yuccifolium Michx. (button eryngo [Apiaceae]), Lespedeza capitata Michx. (roundhead lespedeza [Fabaceae]), Liatris aspera Michx. (rough prairie blazing star [Asteraceae]), and Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl. (upright prairie coneflower [Asteracae]); multiple populations of each species are used to compare seed collected in the same year from different populations. Additionally, we test whether seed pretreatment (gibberellic acid or scarification) could improve germination estimates of viability by overcoming seed dormancy. Results show that viability estimates do not significantly differ by testing method for 3 of our 4 study species, with the exception being E. yuccifolium. We suspect that E. yuccifolium may have yielded different results for each viability testing method because its pretreatment was not enough to break dormancy, among other factors. Pretreatment yielded significantly higher viability estimates in L. capitata and in one population of L. aspera and E. yuccifolium in the germination study. These results confirm that restoration practitioners should calculate seeding rates based on viability measures on a per-species and per-accession basis. For many species, the method used to calculate viability can be determined by available equipment and expertise, but for species with unknown dormancy requirements, or those that may lose viability when stored, multiple methods may be needed.

  • grassland
  • tetrazolium
  • germination
  • X-ray
  • seed quality
  • Apiaceae
  • Fabaceae
  • Asteraceae
NOMENCLATURE
  • USDA NRCS (2015)
  • © 2015 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

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Native Plants Journal: 16 (2)
Native Plants Journal
Vol. 16, Issue 2
20 Jun 2015
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Evaluating seed viability in prairie forbs: a test of three methods
Jessica L Riebkes, Rebecca S Barak, Andrea T Kramer
Native Plants Journal Jun 2015, 16 (2) 96-106; DOI: 10.3368/npj.16.2.96

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Evaluating seed viability in prairie forbs: a test of three methods
Jessica L Riebkes, Rebecca S Barak, Andrea T Kramer
Native Plants Journal Jun 2015, 16 (2) 96-106; DOI: 10.3368/npj.16.2.96
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Keywords

  • grassland
  • tetrazolium
  • germination
  • X-ray
  • seed quality
  • Apiaceae
  • Fabaceae
  • Asteraceae
  • USDA NRCS (2015)
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