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Atriplex (canescens)

Andrea Kramer
Conservation Scientist
Chicago Botanic Garden - Research
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, Illinois 60022
847-835-6971
akramer@chicagobotanic.org
http://www.chicagobotanic.org

Family Scientific Name: Chenopodiaceae
Scientific Name: Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.
Common Name: fourwing saltbush
Species Code: ATCA2
Ecotype: SI - Kane County, Utah
Propagation Goal: Seeds
Propagation Method: Seed
ProductType: Propagules (seeds, cutings, poles, etc.)
Time To Grow: Weeks
Propagule Collection: Purchased
Pre-Planting Treatments: APPROACH: This project aimed to determine optimal germination conditions for species currently used in restoration in the Colorado Plateau, as well as other priority forb species that may be beneficial to include in future restoration efforts. For this study, seeds were plated on 1.5% agar in petri dishes (4 replicates of 25 seeds per treatment) and incubated in growth chambers at Chicago Botanic Garden using six temperature treatments intended to represent different seed sowing times and locations in the Colorado Plateau (treatments are shown as day/night temperatures respectively, using a 12h/12h light/dark cycle):

TREATMENTS:
1) early-spring (4 weeks at 52°F/34°F)
2) winter (12 weeks at 34°F) then early-spring (4 weeks at 52°F/34°F)
3) mid-spring (4 weeks at 59°F/41°F)
4) winter (12 weeks at 34°F) then mid-spring (59°F/41°F)
5) late-spring (4 weeks at 68°F/50°F)
6) winter (12 weeks at 34°F) then late-spring (68°F/50°F)
Establishment Phase: RESULTS: Almost all viable seeds from this source-identified seedlot from Kane, Utah germinated to 90% in treatments that included cold night temperatures (34°F ) and/or winter conditions. The only two treatments with low germination were the treatments simulating mid-spring and late-spring sowing (treatment 3 had 41% germination while treatment 5 had only 14% germination). This suggests that seeding in warm conditions where the temperature does not drop below 41°F at night will significantly lower the percent of seeds that will germinate. The figure at http://tinyurl.com/CBGSeedGerminationATCA shows the average percent germination and standard deviation of viable seeds for each treatment.

Citation:

Foxx, Alicia; Kramer, Andrea T. 2015. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cutings, poles, etc.) Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. Seeds Chicago Botanic Garden - Research Glencoe, Illinois. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/19). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.