Native Plants Journal - Article
Shaken, not stirred -- a percussion scarification technique
Abstract:
A pneumatic paint shaker was used to break seed dormancy in two reclamation species: New Mexico locust (Robinia neomexicana Gray [Fabaceae]) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L. [Fabaceae]). This percussion treatment improves germination over hot water, sulfuric acid or mechanical scarification methods because it acts directly on the strophiole-the natural site of water entry to the seed. Consequently, percussion scarification is more likely to produce undamaged seeds and healthy seedlings. This low-cost percussion system holds promise for successfully pre-treating seeds from a range of species of the ecologically important Papilionoideae subfamily of the Fabaceae family.
Issue & Pages:
Spring 2002 Pages: 65-66
Article Download:
3-1NPJ65-66.PDF (PDF document)
Authors:
- Nabil Y Khadduri
- John T Harrington
Keywords:
dormancy, strophiole, New Mexico locust, black locust