We try to produce some plant such as Rhus tahitensis for conservation purposes. However this species doesn't germinate in standard conditions.
We try Sodium hydroxide bath with different treatment time (30'', 1', 2', etc.). So far: no results. Do you have a recommendation to activate germination of this challenging species (who probably need an animal partner for zoochory and dormancy removal)?
Dear David Beaune
Staghorn sumac (Rhus tahitensis) seeds often have double dormancy:
1) exogenous physical seed coat dormancy - inhibiting water to enter inside the seed
2) endogenous embryo dormancy
First and foremost check the viability of seeds by tetrazolium staining. Then scarify the seeds in hot water or scratch the coating of the seeds with a knife to break seed coat dormancy. Subsequently, eliminate the embryo dormancy by GA3 treatment or by cold stratification. Finally germinate the seeds using a moist substrate at 25-30 °C.
Regards
Kazem Ghassemi-Golezani
Dear David Beaune
First, you must make sure that seeds from new crop; seeds have a hard coating that impairs germination because it does not allow moisture to enter.
Second, it can be used to soaking in water for 2, 4, 6 hours and then germinate.
Or soak the seeds in solutions of potassium silicate - humic acid - gibberellic acid
You can scratch the seed coat with a knife to make a small nick before soaking or germination.
Apparently the key is to use super fresh seeds... the only trial that worked.
No results for multi trial (various time) with acid baths.
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