Seed dormancy hampers establishment of anacua [Ehretia anacua (Teran & Berl.) I.M. Johnst.] in plantings for wildlife. We evaluated methods of enhancing anacua germination and causes of dormancy. Seeds were (1) scarified with 2.9 mol liter-1 H2O2 or 0.71 mol liter-1 NaOCl for 10, 20, or 30 minutes, or concentrated (18.0 mol liter-1) H2SO4 for 15, 30, 60, or 120 minutes; (2) rinsed with water for 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours; (3) treated with 0.1, 1.4, 2.9, and 4.3 mmol liter-1 gibberellic acid (GA); (4) treated with 0.02 mol liter-1 KNO3; (5) treated with dry heat (130 degrees C) for 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 minutes, (6) mechanically scarified; and (7) moist prechilled at 3 and 7 degrees C for 2 or 4 weeks. Seeds were germinated in controlled environment chambers at 30 degrees C. Germination was not enhanced by chemical scarification or rinsing. GA (1.4 mmol liter-1) increased germination from 35% for controls to 61%. Mechanical scarification and dry heat enhanced germination of highly dormant seeds only. A 2-week moist prechill at 3 degrees C increased germination of intact seeds from 6% for controls to 36%. Percent and rate of germination were similar among seed sources. Apparent afterripening requirements limited germination at 2 months after harvest to 3%. This requirement gradually broke down until at 8 months after harvest, germination had increased to 40%. Our results indicated that treatment with 1.4 mmol liter-1 GA or higher concentrations, moist prechilling for 2 weeks at 3 degrees C, and storage for 8 months will increase germination of dormant anacua seeds. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.