Effects of Seed Treatments on Germination

摘要

The goal of this study was to identify ways to stimulate the germination of seedsof various grasses and legumes of potential value in revegetation of army training grounds or similar damaged lands. Ten treatments (including a control) were used on ten species of plants. Four of the treatments used plant hormones (kinetin and gibberellic acid), and five were environmental, including cold exposure, hot water soaks and cold water soaks. Of these the gibberellic acid treatments yielded the most spectacular results, increasing the germination rate more than three times that of the control in some cases. The environmental treatments were relatively ineffective, although the hot water soaks and the cold exposure often suppressed germination somewhat. Microbial contamination was much reduced by the hot water soak, which may be beneficial in some circumstances.