Abstract: Effect of scarification and growing media on seed

Abstract: Effect of scarification and growing media on seed

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Effect of scarification and growing media on seed germination of
Crotalaria pumila (Ort.)
research note
R. Lindig-Cisneros and S. Lara-Cabrera
Instituto de Investigaciones Sobre Recursos Naturales, Universidad
Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Apdo postal 12, La Colina, C.
P. 58141, Morelia, Michoacán
[email protected]
R. Lindig-Cisneros and S. Lara-Cabrera
Effect of scarification and growing media on seed germination of Crotalaria pumila (Ort.)
Page 231-234
Crotalaria pumila is an herbaceous species with wide environmental tolerance and potential for
ecological restoration and agroforestry systems. Little is known about the germination requirements of
the species and propagation methods are needed to further study the potential and future use of the
species. Four scarification treatments (mechanical scarification and immersion in concentrated sulfuric
acid for 10, 30 and 60 minutes) and control were tested under growth chamber and greenhouse
conditions. Highest germination rates were obtained with acid scarification for 60 minutes under
growth chamber (74.33%) and for 30 minutes under greenhouse conditions (80.00%). Mechanical
scarification was also efficient in promoting germination (58.00% for growth chamber conditions and
69.67% under greenhouse conditions) but it was labor intensive. Lowest germination was observed for
untreated seeds (3.00% for growth chamber conditions and 4.33% under greenhouse conditions). Our
results suggest that intermediate acid-scarification times (ca. 30 minutes) under greenhouse
conditions are more efficient for propagating the species because damage to the seeds caused by
longer exposure to acid are avoided.