Stratification of beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) seed improves germination

Abstract

Corylus cornuta is a native shrub to Alberta, Canada, which can be propagated by seed and used to revegetate disturbed sites. Seeds were collected and separated into green-sheathed seeds, which were subjected to cold moist stratification of 0 (no stratification), 8, 16 and 23 weeks, and brown-sheathed seeds, which were subjected to cold moist stratification of 0, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 23 weeks. Green-sheathed seeds had similar germination percentages, mean germination times and synchrony as the brown-sheathed seeds. Stratifying for minimum 16 weeks for both seed groups improved the germination metrics.