Publication Date

1997

Description

The aim of this study was to determine the germination conditions as well as an approach to seed quality of five native grasses of the humid Argentine Pampa prairie: Bothriochloa laguroides, Sporobolus indicus, Glyceria multiflora, Briza subaristata and Chaetotropis imberbis. They are considered as good and very good forage species. Mature inflorescences were sampled in Brandsen (Flooding Pampa sub-Region, Buenos Aires province, Argentina) from December, 1994 to March, 1995. A three factor completely randomized design with 4 replications was applied. Treatments combined prechilling (I: yes/II:no), KNO3 (A:yes/ B:no) and germination temperatures: 2 constant 15° and 20°C and 6 alternating 15-10°C, 20-10°C, 20-15°C, 20-25°C, 20-30°C and 20-35°C in 8-16hs period. Constant temperatures were not effective except for Briza subaristata. Time of after ripening applied (5-6 months) removed the most dormancy; high levels of normal germination percentage were observed for treatments II B. Prechilling and KNO3 treatments enhanced germination response of the studied species, showing differential behaviour of seeds within the same population. For the better germination conditions the lowest germination percentage of mature caryopsis was over 78.8%.

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Seed Quality of Five Native Grasses of the Humid Argentine Pampa Prairie: Germination Conditions

The aim of this study was to determine the germination conditions as well as an approach to seed quality of five native grasses of the humid Argentine Pampa prairie: Bothriochloa laguroides, Sporobolus indicus, Glyceria multiflora, Briza subaristata and Chaetotropis imberbis. They are considered as good and very good forage species. Mature inflorescences were sampled in Brandsen (Flooding Pampa sub-Region, Buenos Aires province, Argentina) from December, 1994 to March, 1995. A three factor completely randomized design with 4 replications was applied. Treatments combined prechilling (I: yes/II:no), KNO3 (A:yes/ B:no) and germination temperatures: 2 constant 15° and 20°C and 6 alternating 15-10°C, 20-10°C, 20-15°C, 20-25°C, 20-30°C and 20-35°C in 8-16hs period. Constant temperatures were not effective except for Briza subaristata. Time of after ripening applied (5-6 months) removed the most dormancy; high levels of normal germination percentage were observed for treatments II B. Prechilling and KNO3 treatments enhanced germination response of the studied species, showing differential behaviour of seeds within the same population. For the better germination conditions the lowest germination percentage of mature caryopsis was over 78.8%.