Germination requirements of green needlegrass Stipa viridula for use in revegetation of disturbed lands in South Dakota and Montana, USA

Published source details Fulbright T.E., Redente E.F. & Wilson A.M. (1983) Germination requirements of green needlegrass (Stipa viridula Trin.). Journal of Range Management, 36, 390-394
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Summary

Green needlegrass Stipa viridulais a common cool-season perennial bunchgrass of the northern Great Plains of USA. It has potential for use in revegetation of disturbed lands but seed dormancy often causes establishment problems. In this study, germination requirements of green needlegrass were investigated.

The effects of temperature, light, physioiogical and mechanical treatments on germination of seed from four sources were examined.

Seeds (in lidded plastic boxes) were germinated on moistened blue blotter paper over a layer of creped cellulose. Four replications of 100 seeds each were used in all experiments (except for some pilot experiments). Germination counts were made every day for 28 days.

Optimum temperatures for germination were 20ºC (constant) and 20-15ºC (alternating: 16 h 20ºC; 8 h 15ºC). Germination was highest in darkness.

Greatest germination of the most dormant seed occurred when seeds were pre-chilled (i.e. 2 to 4ºC for 1 month; pre-chilled average 50% germination; unchilled c.30% germination) or treated with gibberellic acid and the lemma and palea clipped with a razor blade (thus a method of scarifying the lemma and palea without damaging the caryopsis might enhance stand establishment).

Note: If using or referring to this published study, please read and quote the original paper, this can be viewed at: https://www.uair.arizona.edu/holdings/journal/issue?r=http://jrm.library.arizona.edu/Volume36/Number3/