Effect of Seed Coat Sterilization and Photoperiod Treatments on the Germination of Atlantic White-Cedar Seeds

Atlantic white-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides [L.] B.S. P.) (AWC) is an endangered, wetland tree species native to the coastal regions of the Eastern United States. Since 2012, AWC has been the target of ex situ gene conservation efforts by the Camcore Program at North Carolina State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. The gene conservation effort includes annual post-collection seed germination tests to evaluate seed quality and conservation value. Early germination trials were confounded by significant fungal growth that may have reduced overall seed germination. This study evaluated the effects of seed coat sterilization (no sterilization, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and ethanol) and photoperiod (0:24, 8:16, 12:12, 16:8, and 24:0, light:dark) treatments on the germination of AWC seeds in the laboratory at 22 °C (71.6 °F) following cold-moist stratification at 4 °C (39.2 °F) for 30 days. Fungal growth in this study was minor and did not differ substantially between unsterilized and sterilized seeds. Treatment with hydrogen peroxide nearly doubled seed germination over the other sterilization treatments. There were no differences in seed germination among photoperiod treatments.

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Author(s): Robert M. Jetton, W. Andrew Whittier

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 62, Numbers 1, 2 (2019)

Volume: 62

Numbers: 1, 2