Native Plants Journal - Article

Effects of temperature on germination of 10 native legume species

Abstract:

Seeds of 10 species of legumes native to Missouri germinated
poorly when the temperature was lower than 15 ø9 øThe
fastest time to first germinated seed occurred at 20 ø8 øor all species except purple and white prairie clover,which germinated first at 25 ø7 øThe fastest germination rate was
first reached at 20 ø8 øor hoary tick clover,sessile tick
clover,and slender lespedeza,at 25 ø7 øor white prairie
clover, purple prairie clover, panicled tick clover, hairy lespedeza,and tall lespedeza,and at 30 ø6 øor Illinois
bundleflower and roundhead lespedeza. Maximum total germination percentage also varied among species. For both the
prairie clovers and roundhead lespedeza, hairy lespedeza, and
slender lespedeza, the lowest temperature at which maximum
total germination percentage occurred was 15 ø9 øFor
Illinois bundleflower and the 3 tick clovers, the lowest temperature at which maximum total germination percentage occurred was 20 ø8 øFor most species, the fastest germination
rate occurred at a higher temperature than the maximum germination percentage. Many species attained maximum germination percentage and fastest germination rate across a range of temperatures rather than at a single optimal temperature.
Species that rapidly and completely germinate across a wide
range of temperatures should germinate more reliably under
variable soil conditions than species that exhibit a narrow range.

Issue & Pages:

Spring 2003 Pages: 5-9

Article Download:

4-1NPJ05-09.pdf (PDF document)

Authors:

• Robert L McGraw
• Floyd W Shockley
• Theresia K Elam

Keywords:

germination rate index, seed, Dalea candida, Dalea purpurea, Desmanthus illinoensis, Desmodium canescens, Desmodium paniculatum, Desmodium sessilifolium, Lespedeza capitata, Lespedeza hirta, Lespedeza stuevei, Lespedeza virginica