Abstract
Eastern bluestar [Amsonia tabernaemontana Walt. (Apocynaceae)] is a herbaceous perennial native to the Eastern United States, yet poor seed germination has inhibited its adoption into commercial product mixes. Germination of A. tabernaemontana seeds at a high percentage was demonstrated in this study. Using the best seed treatment protocol developed in this study, A. tabernaemontana germinated at 70.4% during a 28 day period. This protocol included mechanical scarification followed by imbibation for 48 hr at 24C (72F). Seeds receiving no scarification and no imbibition germinated at 0% during this same 28 day period. Seeds were dissected to determine the best method for seed coat scarification. These dissections showed embryos were arranged longitudinally within seeds and that mechanically removing 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) of the seed coat terminus to expose the embryo was the best scarification method. Imbibition curves were developed for scarified and control (unscarified) seeds to explain dormancy mechanism(s) for A. tabernaemontana seeds. Water was imbibed at a similar rate (P = 0.5217) for all treatments and mechanically scarified seeds germinated at rates higher than unscarified seeds as shown in germination curves, indicating mechanical dormancy is the primary hindrance to germination of this species.
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