RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Sporobolus (contractus)

Carol and Jerry Baskin
Professors
University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0225
seedlings.uidaho.com
Family Scientific Name: Poaceae
Family Common Name: Grass family
Scientific Name: Sporobolus contractus Hitch.
Common Name: Spike drop seed
Species Code: SPOCON
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Time To Grow: 0
Pre-Planting Treatments: Mechanical injury of the caryopis or covering layers resulted in 67% germination.
Pretreatment with potassium nitrate resulted in 47% germination.
Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 28 days. Germination occurs at 35D/20N C alternating temperature cycle.
In another study, germination occurs at 30D/15.5N C alternating temperature cycle. Germination was greater in light than dark; and light was equal to dark.
Physiological dormancy of seed is overcome by 28 day cold moist stratification treament and germination tempertures of 35D/20N.
References: Toole, V. K. (1941). Factors affecting the germination of various dropseed grasses (Sporobolus spp.). J. Agric. Res. 62, 691-715.
Sabo, D. G., Johnson, G. V., Martin, W. C. and Aldon, E. F. (1979). Germination requirements of 19 species of arid land plants. USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. RM-210.
Table 10.25 In: Baskin, C.J. and Baskin, J.M. Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography and Evolution in Dormancy and Germination, Academic Press, 1998. Chapter 10: A Geographical Perspective on Germination Ecology: Temperate and Arctic Zones, pages 331 to 458.

Citation:

Baskin, Jerry M.; Baskin, Carol C.. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Sporobolus contractus Hitch. plants University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky. 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.