Seed Germination of Southern Seaoats (Uniola paniculata) as Influenced by Stratification, Temperature, and Light

Abstract

Abstract Seeds of southern seaoats (Uniola paniculata L.) were removed from storage at 4C (39F) and stratified (moist-prechilled) for 0, 15, or 30 days at 4C (39F). Following stratification, seeds were germinated at 25C (77F) or 30C (86F) or at 8/16 hr thermoperiods of 30/20C (86/68F) or 35/25C (95/77F) with daily photoperiods at each temperature of 0 (total darkness), 2, 4, 8, 12, or 24 hr. Germination was recorded every 3 days for 30 days. Light had no effect on germination. Regardless of photoperiod the influence of light was nonsignificant (P = 0.45). On the other hand, temperature and stratification were significant (P = 0.0001) and there was a significant interaction (P = 0.001) between the two parameters. Averaged across all treatments, the highest total germination was realized at 35/25C (95/77F) (60%) followed by 30/20C (86/68F) (48%), 30C (86F) (37%), and 25C (77F) (31 %). Stratification was not a requirement for germination but stratification for 15 days increased the rate of germination but not total germination. However, stratification for 30 days decreased germination due to seed decay caused by fungal growth despite seed treatment with 1.3% sodium hypochlorite prior to stratification. Seed decay during germination was observed and treatments to reduce decay should be investigated since viability tests with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC or TZ) indicated that initial seed viability was >95%.