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Home → Native Plant Network → Journal → Articles → Shaken, not stirred -- a percussion scarification technique

Native Plants Journal - Article

Shaken, not stirred -- a percussion scarification technique

Abstract:

A pneumatic paint shaker was used to break seed dormancy in two reclamation species: New Mexico locust (Robinia neomexicana Gray [Fabaceae]) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L. [Fabaceae]). This percussion treatment improves germination over hot water, sulfuric acid or mechanical scarification methods because it acts directly on the strophiole-the natural site of water entry to the seed. Consequently, percussion scarification is more likely to produce undamaged seeds and healthy seedlings. This low-cost percussion system holds promise for successfully pre-treating seeds from a range of species of the ecologically important Papilionoideae subfamily of the Fabaceae family.

Issue & Pages:

Spring 2002 Pages: 65-66

Article Download:

3-1NPJ65-66.PDF (PDF document)

Authors:

  • Nabil Y Khadduri
  • John T Harrington

Keywords:

dormancy, strophiole, New Mexico locust, black locust