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Home → Publications → Tree Planters' Notes → Tree Planters' Notes Volume 20, Number 2 (1969) → Artificial Light-A Possible Pretreatment Method for Dormant White Spruce Seed

Artificial Light-A Possible Pretreatment Method for Dormant White Spruce Seed

A quick pretreatment method for internally dormant seed would be a valuable aid to nurserymen in testing germination of seed from an unfamiliar source or in preparing additional seed when an original sowing has failed. The most widely used and successful method for treating such seed is that of cold-moist stratification. For white spruce this method usually requires at least 30 days. The related technique of cold-soaking, although taking less time, has not always given as rapid or complete germination as stratification (1) . In recent years, investigators have found that light will stimulate seed germination of some tree species. The seed of several of these species, such as Douglas-fir (2) and yellow birch (3), commonly show internal dormancy and are normally stratified to achieve good germination. To explore the possibility of using light as a pretreatment for dormant white spruce seed, a series of tests was undertaken to compare germination of seed exposed to artificial light with that of stratified and cold-soaked seed. Also, light-treated seed was dried and stored in a refrigerator for two different periods to determine if time would reduce its reaction to light stimulus.


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Author(s): Howard M. Phipps

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 20, Number 2 (1969)

Volume: 20

Number: 2