Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of methods for the artificial scarification of black locust seeds based on the influence of the air and liquid nitrogen temperatures. Three populations were selected for the analyses: a managed tree stand, a selected seed stand and a seed orchard. Samples of 200 seeds (4 × 50) were randomly selected. Before scarification, the seeds were stored at −70 °C for 24 h. Nine different scarification treatments were evaluated. To calculate the germination capacity and the dynamics of germination, observations were made on days 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 after treatment. For statistical analyses, we used repeated measures analysis of variance. The obtained results indicated that the highest scarification efficiency for black locust seeds occurred in the treatment in liquid nitrogen and in an air temperature range of 85–90 °C. The provenance of seeds had a significant effect on the dynamics of germination. Thermal methods and the use of liquid nitrogen can be alternatives to the labour intensive methods of cutting the seeds or using measures that require specialised equipment.
Highlights
The genus Robinia includes 19 botanical taxa, with eight classified as species and the others as natural hybrids or varieties (Redei 2013; Zajaczkowski 2013)
While of the seeds harvested on the seed orchard (SO), only 77.7% (±12.18) germinated, which was significantly less than the other provenances
95 °C had a negative effect on the germination of black locust seeds, and maintaining this high temperature for 10 min resulted in a decrease in seed germination capacity to 79.8%, with the decrease to 70.7% at 20 min
Summary
The genus Robinia includes 19 botanical taxa, with eight classified as species and the others as natural hybrids or varieties (Redei 2013; Zajaczkowski 2013). Black locust is acclimated to Poland (Pacyniak 1981) and is selected for use in midfield forests and in the production of wood raw material on plantations of fastgrowing trees (Wegorek and Kraszkiewicz 2005; Zajaczkowski 2007; Zajaczkowski and Wojda 2012). Black locust is subject to the Program zachowania lesnych zasobow genowych i hodowli selekcyjnej drzew lesnych w Polsce (Program for the conservation of forest genetic resources and tree breeding in Poland for the years 2011–2035), which anticipates a further increase in the size of the seed base for the species (Program 2011). Studies are being conducted on the biological and environmental determinants to optimise the biomass production of black locust wood plantations for industrial and energy uses (Kraszkiewicz 2013)
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