Thiram Improves Field Germination of Covered Longleaf Seed
Arasan, a commercial fungicide containing thiram2 as the active ingredient, is commonly used in a repellent coating of pine seeds for protection against birds in direct-seeding operations. The seed coating also contains endrin to repel insects and rodents and a latex sticker to hold chemicals to the seed. For some time it has been known that thiram usually depresses laboratory germination of seed of all southern pines.3 The effect has been attributed to high chemical concentrations accumulating in laboratory dishes, where seeds are closely spaced. But field germination is unimpaired, presumably because, there are fewer seeds per unit of area, and chemicals are washed away as they leach off the seed. This study was conducted to learn if thiram is likely to affect germination in row-seeding operations. When sown in rows, seeds are usually spaced close together and covered with varying amounts of soil. Longleaf pine seed was chosen because it is sensitive to thiram and germinates rapidly.
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Author(s): Jacques R. Jorgensen
Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 19, Number 3 (1968)
Volume: 19
Number: 3