The use of gibberellic acid, ethephon and cold treatment to promote germination of Rhus typhina L. seeds

Abstract

Germination of Rhus typhina was less than 20%. Treatment with gibberellic acid (GA) (0–1000 mg l−1) or cold stratification (0–30 days at 4°C) improved germination. GA treatment did not improve germination if the stratification period exceeded 10 days. Cold treatment for 30 days increased germination to 45%. Cold treatment at 4°C was limited to 30 days to develop a rapid system for stratification. A combination of ethephon treatment at 200 mg l−1 for 24 h followed by 30 days cold (4°C) treatment increased germination to 60%. This promotion of germination due to ethephon showed a strong interaction with subsequent duration of cold treatment; the effect was more pronounced with increasing duration of cold treatment, while no effect was observed in the absence of a cold treatment.