RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Optimizing Acid Scarification and Stratification Combinations for Russet Buffaloberry Seeds
JF Native Plants Journal
JO NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 81
OP 86
DO 10.3368/npj.4.2.81
VO 4
IS 2
A1 Lee S Rosner
A1 John T Harrington
YR 2003
UL http://npj.uwpress.org/content/4/2/81.abstract
AB Seed propagation literature for russet buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt. [Elaeagnaceae]) is varied, recommending acid scarification, cold moist stratification, or both treatments. When combinations of sulfuric acid scarification (0 or 5 min) and stratification (0, 9, or 14 wk) treatments were tested on a Montana seedlot, the optimal treatment combination was a 5-min acid soak and 14-wk (98-d) stratification. Although stratification was more effective than scarification when treatments were applied alone, germination improved from 27% to 38% when seeds were scarified prior to the 14-wk stratification treatment, and, for seeds germinating after stratification, germination occurred almost 4 d earlier on average. A 1-wk imbibition test, where increase in seed weight is measured following scarification and 1-wk cold-stratification, is proposed as a convenient method to determine the most effective acid scarification duration for individual seedlots. The optimal stratification duration was achieved 4 wk after 10% of viable seeds had germinated during stratification.