Kathie and I often discussed the quality of our collected
seeds. Would they grow when planted? Would the seeds germinate?
seeds. Would they grow when planted? Would the seeds germinate?
Seed germination tests are not that hard to do and in early
January 2008 I set up number of tests.
January 2008 I set up number of tests.
Most prairie and savanna species need a period of cold moist
conditions to overcome dormancy. I used conventional petri plates with warm
absorbent paper (filter paper) in the bottom. 25 seeds were placed in each
plate, which was wrapped in Saran and placed in the back of the refrigerator.
In early January 2008 the plates were placed under lights (16 hours light; 8
hours dark), rewatered when necessary, and observed daily for germination.
conditions to overcome dormancy. I used conventional petri plates with warm
absorbent paper (filter paper) in the bottom. 25 seeds were placed in each
plate, which was wrapped in Saran and placed in the back of the refrigerator.
In early January 2008 the plates were placed under lights (16 hours light; 8
hours dark), rewatered when necessary, and observed daily for germination.
Petri plate with germinated seeds of purple milkweed. The
root comes out first. All the seeds have germinated. 2/15/2008
root comes out first. All the seeds have germinated. 2/15/2008
Seed germination tests
|
Species
|
State-listed
|
Seed Year
|
% germ #1
|
% germ #2
|
% germ both plates
|
|
Aureolaria
|
|
2007
|
20%
|
12%
|
16%
|
|
Butterfly MW BE
|
|
2007
|
60%
|
80%
|
70%
|
|
Butterfly MW PVC
|
|
2007
|
76%
|
92%
|
84%
|
|
Cacalia tuberosa
|
X
|
2005
|
11%
|
0%
|
3%
|
|
Cacalia tuberosa PVC
|
X
|
2007
|
8%
|
0%
|
4%
|
|
Eupatorium sessilifolium
|
X
|
2005
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Eupatorium sessilifolium
|
X
|
2007
|
4%
|
0%
|
2%
|
|
Eupatorium sessilifolium
Parrish |
X
|
2007
|
4%
|
0%
|
2%
|
|
Green MW BE
|
|
2007
|
96%
|
72%
|
84%
|
|
Indian grass
|
|
2007
|
56%
|
60%
|
58%
|
|
Little bluestem
|
|
2005
|
16%
|
16%
|
16%
|
|
Little bluestem
|
|
2007
|
12%
|
12%
|
12%
|
|
Napaea
|
X
|
2005
|
4%
|
0%
|
2%
|
|
Napaea
|
X
|
2007
|
4%
|
8%
|
6%
|
|
Poke MW PVC
|
|
2007
|
80%
|
92%
|
86%
|
|
Prairie dropseed forbs garden
|
|
2007
|
24%
|
20%
|
22%
|
|
Prenanthes crepidinia
|
X
|
2005
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Purple MW
|
X
|
2005
|
100%
|
||
|
Purple MW forbs garden
|
X
|
2007
|
100%
|
84%
|
92%
|
|
Sweet Indian plantain
|
X
|
2005
|
28%
|
28%
|
28%
|
|
Sweet Indian plantain
|
X
|
2007
|
12%
|
32%
|
22%
|
|
Taenidia integrifolium
|
|
2005
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Taenidia integrifolium PVC
|
|
2007
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Wood betony Mark
|
|
2007
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Yellow hyssop
|
X
|
2007
|
60%
|
44%
|
52%
|
BE: From Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie
PVC: From Pleasant Valley Conservancy
As the table shows, the milkweeds germinated very well, as
did the grasses, but some of the other forbs germinated poorly or not at all.
We confirmed some of these data with greenhouse studies in future years.
Obviously, if the seeds do not germinate, the chance of getting plants from
planted seeds is not good. However, with most species we generally plant a lot
of seed, so if the % germination is only 1-2%, there is still chance of getting
some plants started from seed.
did the grasses, but some of the other forbs germinated poorly or not at all.
We confirmed some of these data with greenhouse studies in future years.
Obviously, if the seeds do not germinate, the chance of getting plants from
planted seeds is not good. However, with most species we generally plant a lot
of seed, so if the % germination is only 1-2%, there is still chance of getting
some plants started from seed.
The best approach for those poor germinators was to use the
greenhouse. We planted large amounts of seeds in flats and put them under
lights after cold, moist stratification. We transferred the few plants we got
to tubes and raised plugs. Most of the plugs we transplanted to the field grew,
and became established. This worked especially well for E. sessilifolium, one
of the state-listed species.
greenhouse. We planted large amounts of seeds in flats and put them under
lights after cold, moist stratification. We transferred the few plants we got
to tubes and raised plugs. Most of the plugs we transplanted to the field grew,
and became established. This worked especially well for E. sessilifolium, one
of the state-listed species.
Of course, every year will be different, depending on conditions at the time seed formation is taking place.