Symphoricarpos (oreophilus)
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John T. Harrington Professor New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center P. O. Box 359 Mora, New Mexico 87732-0359 575-387-2319 575-387-9012 (fax) joharrin@nmsu.edu www.arborday.org |
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| Family Scientific Name: | Caprifoliaceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Honeysuckle Family | ||
| Scientific Name: | Symphoricarpos oreophilus Gray | ||
| Common Name: | mountain snowberry | ||
| Species Code: | SYOR | ||
| General Distribution: | Mountain snowberry is widespread in montane regions of western North America at elevations of 1,220 to 3,200 m (McMurray 1986). | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Stock Type: | 164 ml conetainer | ||
| Time To Grow: | 0 | ||
| Target Specifications: | Height: 15 to 20 cm Caliper:2 to 3 mm Root System: Firm root plug. | ||
| Propagule Collection: | White berry-like drupes containing two nutlets each ripen in late summer or early fall (Evans 1974, Vines 1960). | ||
| Propagule Processing: | Berries are soaked overnight in tap water and allowed to ferment for 48 hours. Berries are then mashed and dried. Dried berries are processed in a rubbing box. This box is straight-sided with a rigged, rubber mat covering the bottom. A wooden block (also with a rigged covering) is used to rub the seeds in the box, which breaks the connection between seeds and pulp. Finally, a Dakota blower is used to separate seeds from pulp, but careful threshing in front of a strong fan can also separate the seed/pulp mixture. By this method, the non-separated mixture is placed on a wide pan and tossed gently in the air in front of the fan-the debris is blown away while the heavier seeds remain. Viability of the seed lot can be improved by discarding seeds that float during soaking, but some viable seeds may be discarded along with non-viable seeds. Cleaned seeds are refrigerated until use. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: | Seeds are scarified in sulfuric acid for 30 minutes, stratified for 21 days at room temperature, and then stratified at 2 to 5 C for a minimum of 90 days (until at least 15% germination has occurred during stratification) (Rosner et al. 2002). Acid scarification involves submersing seeds in a sufficient volume of concentrated sulfuric acid to more than cover the seeds, and then stirring the seeds vigorously for 30 seconds. Following 30 minutes of soaking, seeds and waste acid are poured through a strainer (waste acid is disposed of as hazardous waste) and seeds are rinsed under running tap water for several minutes and then soaked briefly in several changes of fresh water. Following acid scarification, seeds immediately undergo warm stratification. Seeds are spread across the surface of a piece of clean, damp cloth, which is rolled up and placed in a self-sealing plastic bag, surrounded by moistened peat moss. The bag is sealed, except for a small opening to allow some airflow and stored at room temperature (20 to 23 C) for 21 days. Following warm stratification seeds are thoroughly rinsed to remove microbial contamination and cold stratified without media at 2 to 5 C in a slightly opened self-sealing polybag. Every 2 weeks, beginning 4 weeks after the start of stratification, seeds are rinsed thoroughly to lessen microbial contamination, and germinants are removed from stratification and transplanted. This increases the odds of survival for seeds germinating during stratification. | ||
| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
Propagation occurs in a greenhouse and outdoor nursery (shadehouse) facility. During establishment and the initial portion of the active growth period seedlings are kept in the greenhouse. During the later portion of the active growth period through the storage period seedlings are kept in the shadehouse. Seed is sown in early May and seedlings are moved into the shadehouse in late June when seedlings are between 7 and 10 cm tall. Growing media is a 2:1:1 (v:v:v) peat:perlite:vermiculite mixture. Controlled release fertilizer 14-14-14 (N-P-K) 3 -4 month is incorporated into the media at the rate of 4 kg/m3. Greenhouse and shadehouse irrigation is provided via computer controlled irrigation system utilizing RainBird plastic MPR nozzles. Irrigation heads are spaced to provide head to head coverage. Seedlings are fertilized using a fertigation system, which utilizes the irrigation system. | ||
| Establishment Phase: | The top of the media is dibbled between 2 and 4 mm and seed is placed in the dibble hole. A 2 to 5 mm layer of fine chicken grit is placed on top of the media/seed to serve as a gravel mulch. The containers are irrigated 4 to 8 times daily to keep the surface of the media moist. Greenhouse night and day temperatures range from 18 to 26 C and no supplemental light is provided. Thinning of germinants to one seedling per cell begins after 14 days. The container system allows for the consolidation of germinantsto separate containers, which are removed from daily misting. Consolidation begins after 14 days. | ||
| Length of Establishment Phase: | 28 days | ||
| Active Growth Phase: | The first portion (through week 4 to 5) of the active growth phase is performed in the greenhouse. The remaining 8 to 10 weeks is performed in the shade house. Containers are irrigated as needed, which usually involves irrigation once every 4 to 5 days for the first several weeks then one every 2 to 3 days through the remainder of the active growth period. Containers are allowed to dry down to a moderate state between irrigations. This irrigation regime is used to help minimize root disease problems. All irrigations are done early in the morning, which allows foliage to sufficiently dry before nightfall, minimizing foliar disease problems. During the active growth phase, seedlings are fertigated every other irrigation with a liquid based fertilizer (20-10-10; N-P-K) at a rate of 50 ppm N until they attain the target shoot height (15 to 18 cm). During the greenhouse portion of the active growth period greenhouse temperatures during the day are 21 to 26 C and during the night 18 to 22 C. Ambient photoperiod is supplemented with 5 min light interruptions every 2 hours throughout the night from 75 watt incandescent lights suspended 2 meters above greenhouse benches. Once transferred outside, ambient temperature and light regimes are utilized. | ||
| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 12 to 15 weeks | ||
| Hardening Phase: | This phase begins in late summer to early fall as soon as seedlings attain their target shoot height. Containers are leached with a heavy irrigation and a series of incrementally increasing water stresses is applied to restrict any further height growth. In Las Cruces, ambient day temperatures are still quite warm, but the interval between irrigations becomes progressively longer due to seedlings becoming acclimated to water deficits and the gradual cooling associated with the onset of fall. Seedlings are fertilized every third irrigation (fertigated) with a liquid based fertilizer (10-30-20; N-P-K) at a rate of 25 ppm N. | ||
| Length of Hardening Phase: | 4 to 6 weeks | ||
| Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: | Seedlings are kept in the shadehouse through the winter and are usually shipped in late February to early March. Irrigation intervals are extended during this period and fertilizer is provided every fourth irrigation as described above | ||
| Length of Storage: | 5 months | ||
| References: |
[ITIS] Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2001. (On-line database). http://www.itis.usda.gov. Accessed 11 November 2002. Rosner, L.S., Harrington, J.T., Dreesen, D.R. and L Murray. 2002. Effect of gibberellic acid and standard seed treatments on mountain snowberry germination. Native Plants Journal 3(2)155-162. Vines, R.A. 1960. Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX. 1104 pp. Evans, K.E. 1974. Symphoricarpos Duham. Snowberry. In Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States. Coordinated by C.S. Schopmeyer. USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook No.450. pp.787-790. McMurray, N.E. 1986. Symphoricarpos oreophilus. In: Fischer WC, compiler. The Fire Effects Information System (Online Data base). Missoula (MT): USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Intermountain Fire Science Laboratory. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis.html. Accessed 15 July 2001. |
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Citation:
Rosner, Lee S.; Harrington, John T. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Symphoricarpos oreophilus Gray plants 164 ml conetainer; New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center Mora, New Mexico. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/05). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
