Sereno saltbush (Atriplex repanda Phil.) is a valuable browse producer in arid coastal regions of central Chile. Direct seeding has been impractical using the heavily indurated fruits, which in laboratory germination tests yield zero to 2%. Among treatments which have been reported, manually clipping off the bracts has been the most beneficial. Debracted fruits which had not germinated would do so once the testa was ruptured. Bract removal without rupturing the testa was ineffective. Virtually 100% germination was obtained after fruits had been debracted and the testa pierced without damage to the embryo which encircles the endosperm. Germination approaching 10% was obtained from 3000-utricle samples after treatment in a modified small legume-seed scarifier which broke the pericarp and freed the seed. Higher values appear possible and the technique may have application to other small fruits with hard coverings. 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.