RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Home Native Plant Network
 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Sorghastrum (nutans)

Carol and Jerry Baskin
Professors
University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0225
seedlings.uidaho.com

Family Scientific Name: Poaceae
Family Common Name: Grass family
Scientific Name: Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash
Common Name: Indian grass
Species Code: SORNUT
General Distribution: S. nutans is a widespread North American species found in open woodlands and prairies.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Time To Grow: 0
Propagule Processing: Seeds are non dormant.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Germination occurs at 30D/20N C alternating temperature cycle.
Germination was greater in light than dark.
Cold moist stratification for 4 days at 28/18 alternating temperature cylce resulted in germination.
Dry storage of seeds resulted in 44% germination.
Mechanical injury of caryopsis resulted in 84% germination.
Pretreatment with gibbrellic acid reulted in 25% germination.
References: Hsu, F. H., Nelson, C. J. and Matches, A. G. (1985). Temperature effects on germination of perennial warm-season forage grasses. Crop Sci. 25, 215-220.
Emal, J. G. and Conard, E. C. (1973). Seed dormancy and germination in Indiangrass as affected by light, chilling, and certain chemical treatments. Agron. J. 65, 383-385.
Coukos, C. J. (1944). Seed dormancy and germination in some native grasses. Agron. J. 36, 337-345.
Sautter, E. H. (1962). Germination of switchgrass. J. Range Manage. 15, 108-110.
Zhang, J. and Maun, M. A. (1989). Seed dormancy of Panicum virgatum L. on the shoreline sand dunes of Lake Erie. Amer. Midl. Nat. 122, 77-87.
Svedarsky, D. and Kucera, C. L. (1970). Effects of gibberellic acid and post-harvest age on germination of prairie grasses. Iowa St. J. Sci. 44, 513-518.
In: Baskin, C.J. and Baskin, J.M. Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography and Evolution in Dormancy and Germination, Academic Press, 1998. Chapter 10: A Geographical Perspective on Germination Ecology: Temperate and Arctic Zones, pages 331 to458.

Citation:

Baskin, Jerry M.; Baskin, Carol C.. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash plants University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.