Symphyotrichum (ascendens)
|
Derek Tilley PMC Manager USDA NRCS - Aberdeen Plant Materials Center PO Box 296 Aberdeen, Idaho 83210 208-397-4133 x 104 derek.tilley@id.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/idpmc |
|
| Family Scientific Name: | Asteraceae | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Common Name: | Sunflower family | ||
| Scientific Name: | Symphyotrichum ascendens (Lindl.)G.L. Nesom | ||
| Common Name: | Western aster | ||
| Species Code: | SYAS3 | ||
| Ecotype: | Rocky Mountains | ||
| General Distribution: | Found throughout western North America from Saskatchewan to New Mexico. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | Seeds | ||
| Propagation Method: | Seed | ||
| Propagule Collection: | Plants were grown in a 400 ft long single row of weed barrier fabric with holes at 18 inch spacing for a total of approximatley 270 plants. Plants were 3 years old at the time of harvest. We harvested seed four times from July 26 through August 11 using a shop vac to ensure only ripe mature seed was collected. The shop vac significantly reduced the amount of inert material harvested compared to other methods like racquets and stem clipping. The vacuum filter was cleaned every 10 plants or so to remove pappus and promote good suction. | ||
| Propagule Processing: | Harvested material was allowed to dry in a well-ventilated room for two weeks prior to processing. We fed the material through a Westrup laboratory brush machine with light air to remove pappus and dislodge seed from flower heads. We then used a Westrup air screen cleaner with a 1.55 mm top screen, a 6x24 middle screen, and a solid (blank) bottom screen. We applied very low air to remove dust and unfilled seed. This method yielded 600 g of seed with minimal inert matter. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: | We compared germination shortly after processing in a standard petri dish (germination box) environment against germination in an aerated water bath in a germination chamber at 18 C. Four reps of 50 seeds were placed on blotter paper overlaying Versi-Pak in sealed germination boxes. For the aerated bath treatment we placed 4 reps of 50 seeds in separate fine mesh bags and submerged them in 0.5 l diH2O with an aquarium bubbler. We counted germination after 14 d. The seed in the germination boxes had an average of 50.5% germination, while the aerated bath produced an average of 57% germination, but we did not detect a statistically significant difference. | ||
Citation:
Corea, Carla ; Tilley, Derek; Wolf, Mary K. 2023. Propagation protocol for production of Symphyotrichum ascendens (Lindl.)G.L. Nesom Seeds USDA NRCS - Aberdeen Plant Materials Center Aberdeen, Idaho. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/23). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
