Cold Stratification Delays Germination of Black Huckleberry Seeds

Abstract

Additional index words. Vaccinium membranaceum, Vaccinium globulare, globe huckleberry, thin-leaved huckleberry, germination model, logistic growth curve only the 28and 56-d treatments. Stratification increased germination uniformity for seeds germinating within 28 d of sowing. Maximum cumulative germination ranged from 63% (56 d stratification) to 70% (28 d stratification). Differences between stratified and nonstratified seeds were significant (P < 0.003) only for the 14and 28-d treatments. While statistically significant, the importance of these differences in practical propagation is limited. Stratification for 14 d increased the germination percentage from 65% to 69%, whereas stratification for 28 d increased germination to 70%. In associated trials (Shafii and Barney, 2001), fresh, nondried, nonstratified V. membranaceum seeds germinated at percentages about equal to those observed in this trial. The mechanism by which stratification at 1 to 3 °C delayed germination remains to be determined. Stratification at 1 to 3 °C for 14 or 28 d slightly increased maximum germination percentages for V. membranaceum. Any stratification from 14 to 56 d, however, delayed the onset of germination. For propagation purposes, stratification is unnecessary and could delay seedling emergence.