Ribes (cereum)

John T. Harrington Professor New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center P. O. Box 359 Mora, New Mexico 87732-0359 575-387-2319 575-387-9012 (fax) joharrin@nmsu.edu www.arborday.org

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Family Scientific Name:	Grossulariaceae
Family Common Name:	Gooseberry Family
Scientific Name:	Ribes cereum Dougl.
Common Name:	Wax currant
Species Code:	RICE
General Distribution:	Wax occurs on dry slopes, ridges, and plains at elevations of 1,220 to 3,960 m from Montana west to British Columbia south to California and east to New Mexico (Vines 1960, Marshall and Winkler 1995).
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	164 ml conetainer
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Height: 15 to 20 cm Caliper:2 to 3 mm Root System: Firm root plug.
Propagule Collection:	Red berries containing numerous seeds ripen from July to August (Marshall and Winkler 1995). Berries should be collected as soon as possible after ripening to limit losses to birds.
Propagule Processing:	The process of separating wax current seeds from pulp begins by soaking the berries overnight in tap water and allowing them to ferment for 48 hours. Berries are then mashed, dried and processed in a rubbing box. This box is straight-sided with a rigged, rubber mat covering the bottom. A wooden block (also with a rigged covering) is used to rub the seeds in the box, which breaks the connection between seeds and pulp. Finally, a Dakota blower is used to separate seeds from pulp, but careful threshing in front of a strong fan can also separate the seed/pulp mixture. By this method, the non-separated mixture is placed on a wide pan and tossed gently in the air in front of the fan-the debris is blown away while the heavier seeds remain. Viability of the seed lot can be improved by discarding seeds that float during soaking, but some viable seeds may be discarded along with non-viable seeds. Cleaned seeds are refrigerated until use.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Embryo dormancy is the primary dormancy mechanism in wax currant and is overcome by stratification (Rosner et al. 2003). Seed coat dormancy affects fewer seeds within each lot, but germination can be further improved, if seed coat dormancy is overcome by treatment with 3% hydrogen peroxide (Rosner et al. 2003). Seeds are soaked 4 hours in 3% hydrogen peroxide and then stratified for 120 days at 3 to 5 C. Hydrogen peroxide treatments involve submersing seeds in a sufficient volume of hydrogen peroxide to completely cover the seeds and stirring vigorously for at least 30 seconds at the start of treatment. Following treatment, the seeds are rinsed under running tap water for several minutes and then soaked briefly in several changes of fresh water. Seeds are then soaked overnight (8-12 hours) in water and stratified naked (without media) at 3 to 5 C within self-sealing plastic bags left slightly open to allow air movement. Seeds are rinsed every month or so during stratification to reduce microbial contamination. Germination occurs during the 4-month stratification period, especially in the later stages of the treatment. After 60 days of stratification, seeds are checked every other week, and germinants are removed and transplanted. Removing germinants frequently helps to reduce fungal build up in the seed lot during the remainder of stratification, and increases the survival odds for those seeds germinating during stratification.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation occurs in a greenhouse and outdoor nursery (shadehouse) facility. During establishment and initial portion of the active growth period seedlings are kept in the greenhouse. During the later portion of the active growth period through the storage period seedlings are kept in the shadehouse. Seed is sown in early May and seedlings are moved into the shadehouse in late June when seedlings are between 7 and 10 cm tall. Growing media is a 2:1:1 (v:v:v) peat:perlite:vermiculite mixture. Controlled release fertilizer 14-14-14 (N-P-K) 3 -4 month is incorporated into the media at the rate of 4 kg/m3. Greenhouse and shadehouse irrigation is provided via computer controlled irrigation system utilizing RainBird plastic MPR nozzles. Irrigation heads are spaced to provide head to head coverage. Seedlings are fertilized using a fertigation system, which utilizes the irrigation system.
Establishment Phase:	The top of the media is dibbled between 2 and 4 mm and seed is placed in the dibble hole. A 2 to 5 mm layer of fine chicken grit is placed on top of the media/seed to serve as a gravel mulch. The containers are irrigated 4 to 8 times daily to keep the surface of the media moist. Greenhouse night and day temperatures range from 18 to 26 C and no supplemental light is provided. Thinning of germinants to one seedling per cell begins after 14 days. The container system allows for the consolidation of germinants to separate containers, which are removed from daily misting. Consolidation begins after 14 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	28 days
Active Growth Phase:	The first portion (through week 4 to 5) of the active growth phase is performed in the greenhouse. The remaining 8 to 10 weeks is performed in the shade house. Containers are irrigated as needed, which usually involves irrigation once every 4 to 5 days for the first several weeks then one every 2 to 3 days through the remainder of the active growth period. Containers are allowed to dry down to a moderate state between irrigations. This irrigation regime is used to help minimize root disease problems. All irrigations are done early in the morning, which allows foliage to sufficiently dry before nightfall, minimizing foliar disease problems. During the active growth phase, seedlings are fertigated every other irrigation with a liquid based fertilizer (20-10-10; N-P-K) at a rate of 50 ppm N until they attain the target shoot height (15 to 18 cm). During the greenhouse portion of the active growth period greenhouse temperatures during the day are 21 to 26 C and during the night 18 to 22 C. Ambient photoperiod is supplemented with 5 min light interruptions every 2 hours throughout the night from 75 watt incandescent lights suspended 2 meters above greenhouse benches. Once transferred outside, ambient temperature and light regimes are utilized.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	12 to 15 weeks
Hardening Phase:	This phase begins in late summer to early fall as soon as seedlings attain their target shoot height. Containers are leached with a heavy irrigation and a series of incrementally increasing water stresses is applied to restrict any further height growth. In Las Cruces, ambient day temperatures are still quite warm, but the interval between irrigations becomes progressively longer due to seedlings becoming acclimated to water deficits and the gradual cooling associated with the onset of fall. Seedlings are fertilized every third irrigation (fertigated) with a liquid based fertilizer (10-30-20; N-P-K) at a rate of 25 ppm N.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 to 6 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Seedlings are kept in the shadehouse through the winter and are usually shipped in late February to early March. Irrigation intervals are extended during this period and fertilizer is provided every fourth irrigation as described above.
Length of Storage:	5 months
References:	[IT IS] Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2001. (On-line database). http://www.itis.usda.gov. Accessed 11 November 2002. Marshall, K.and G. Winkler. 1995. Ribes cereum. In: Fischer WC, compiler. The Fire Effects Information System (Online Data base). Missoula (MT): USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Intermountain Fire Science Laboratory. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis.html. Accessed 11/19/02. Rosner, L.S., Harrington, J.T., Dreesen, D.R. and L. Murray. 2003. Hydrogen peroxide seed scarification of New Mexico collections of Ribes cereum. Seed Science and Technology (In Press). Vines, R.A. 1960. Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX. 1104 pp.

Citation:

Rosner, Lee S.; Harrington, John T. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Ribes cereum Dougl. plants 164 ml conetainer; New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center Mora, New Mexico. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/24). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.