EFFECT OF CHEMICAL TREATMENTS ON THE GERMINATION OF FOREST TREE SEEDS

Abstract

Chemical treatments were tested, in comparison with stratification and presoaking, for their effects on germination of forest tree seeds.Significant increases in percentage germination were obtained from potassium nitrate in Betula lenta, B. papyrifera, Fraxinus excelsior, Picea Abies, P. glauca, P. rubens and Pinus resinosa; from thiourea in Larix decidua, Picea Abies, P. glauca and P. rubens; from ethylene chlorhydrin in Betula lenta, B. papyrifera, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua and Pinus resinosa; from red copper oxide in Pinus resinosa; from zinc oxide in Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Pinus Banksiana and P. resinosa; from stratifiaction in Acer saccharum, Betula lenta, B. lutea, B. papyrifera, B. populifolia, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Picea glauca, Pinus resinosa and P. Strobus; and from presoaking in Betula papyrifera, Larix decidua and Picea Abies.The rate of germination was accelerated by potassium nitrate in Betula papyrifera, Picea Abies, P. glauca, P. rubens and Pinus Strobus; by thiourea in Betula lenta, Larix decidua, Picea glauca and P. rubens; by ethylene chlorhydrin in Larix decidua; by red copper oxide in Betula papyrifera; by stratification in practically all species; and by presoaking in Larix decidua and Picea Abies.The rate of seedling growth was increased by zinc oxide in Larix, Picea, Pinus and Thuja, and by red copper oxide in Pinus.