Production and Conditioning of Winterfat Seeds (Krascheninnikovia lanata)

Abstract

The USDA Bridger, Montana, Plant Materials Center has just released Open Range Tested Class germplasm of winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata [Pursh] Guldenstaedt [Chenopodiaceae]). We produce seeds of this native shrub using standard commercial seed production equipment. Processed naked utricles are seeded at a rate of 50 seeds per linear meter (15 seeds/linear ft) of row at a depth of 6 to 10 mm (0.25 to 0.5 in) with a double disk drill equipped with depth bands. Seed production fields are maintained under cultivated and irrigated conditions. Seeds are harvested by swathing mature plants and combining out of cured windrows. Seeds are processed using a series of seed cleaning equipment including 3- and 2-screen fanning mills, a hammermill, an indent separator, and a gravity table. Seeds of winterfat are very short lived, maintaining acceptable viability for only 2 y when stored under ambient conditions.