Articles
Effect of sowing date and seed treatment on seedling emergence of Nandina domestica
Article number
1417_22
Pages
177 – 184
Language
English
Abstract
Nandina domestica Thunb. (Berberidaceae) is a popular ornamental evergreen shrub native to Asia.
The present study investigated the effect of outdoor sowing time and treatments on seed dormancy release and germination.
After collecting and cleaning, some seeds were subjected to cold and warm moist stratification and sown (January). Another part of the seeds was stratified, dry-stored at low (5°C) and high (22°C) temperatures, and sown after two or four months (months of March and May). The seedling emergence occurred in the following September, except for the four-month warm-stratified seeds which were sown in late spring and emerged two weeks after their sowing.
Seeds subjected to two months of cold- or warm-stratification and sown in early spring germinated at higher percentages (88 and 85%, respectively) than seeds sown in winter (75%). However, the increase in cold and warm stratification periods from two to four months and sowing in late spring resulted in a significant decrease in total seedling emergence percentages.
Otherwise, increasing the dry storage of seeds from two to four months resulted in maximum percentages of seedling emergence regardless of temperature (90% for dry-stored seeds at 22°C, and 92% for dry-stored at seeds 5°C). The exposure of N. domestica seeds to high summer temperatures was adequate for dormancy breaking and subsequent germination.
The results provided by the present study are of practical interest to the nursery industry, as they can be applied to improve the sexual propagation of this important ornamental species.
The present study investigated the effect of outdoor sowing time and treatments on seed dormancy release and germination.
After collecting and cleaning, some seeds were subjected to cold and warm moist stratification and sown (January). Another part of the seeds was stratified, dry-stored at low (5°C) and high (22°C) temperatures, and sown after two or four months (months of March and May). The seedling emergence occurred in the following September, except for the four-month warm-stratified seeds which were sown in late spring and emerged two weeks after their sowing.
Seeds subjected to two months of cold- or warm-stratification and sown in early spring germinated at higher percentages (88 and 85%, respectively) than seeds sown in winter (75%). However, the increase in cold and warm stratification periods from two to four months and sowing in late spring resulted in a significant decrease in total seedling emergence percentages.
Otherwise, increasing the dry storage of seeds from two to four months resulted in maximum percentages of seedling emergence regardless of temperature (90% for dry-stored seeds at 22°C, and 92% for dry-stored at seeds 5°C). The exposure of N. domestica seeds to high summer temperatures was adequate for dormancy breaking and subsequent germination.
The results provided by the present study are of practical interest to the nursery industry, as they can be applied to improve the sexual propagation of this important ornamental species.
Authors
E. Pipinis, S. Kostas, A. Stampoulidis, G. Tsoktouridis, S. Hatzilazarou
Keywords
cold stratification, dormancy, dry storage, germination, ornamental plant, seedling emergence
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Working Group Vaccinium Species and Management
- Working Group Rubus and Ribes Species and Management
- Working Group Kiwifruit Culture and Management
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
Online Articles (35)