Re: Another germination topic

 

Yes.
The small grain seed method is a very old cutting propagation technique taught to me by my grandfather using wheat or oat inserted in a slit in the base of a cutting. We were doing roses at the time. The principle is that gibberellic (? if I remember right) acid is released by the germinating small grain seedling in small quantities and stimulates the cutting to root. Can be effective and can also introduce unwanted bacteria and fungi. Modern materials with fungicide are better.
 
Willow water is based on salicylic acid found in most willow species and the active ingredient in aspirin. SA is mildly stimulatory and also know to trigger some protective plant responses in adult plants. I have used the willow water on cuttings but never had great success. Either I never perfected the method or . . .? Still prefer dust or liquid propagation treatments with fungicide added. Neither of these methods was for germination but stimulating cuttings to root.
 
The best way to understand seed germination, and thus optimize it, is to research the specific species in question and identify its seed dormancy and dormancy release mechanisms. Much of the basic work has been done. Colorado State used to have a fantastic site which focused on seed and seed dormancy issues - it should be found easily with a search.
 
Hope this helps.
irisman646
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Another germination topic

 

Diane,
Has anyone tried this?
Jim

From: v*@islandnet.com
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 11:35 AM
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Another germination topic

 

I think it was putting a grain of wheat in a slit in the stem so that
chemicals given off by the germinating seed would stimulate root
development.

Diane

On 10-Jan-10, at 7:34 AM, Ken Walkup wrote:

> Diane & Bill,
> I recall reading that in the past, "willow water" was used to
> stimulate
> rooting. But that's not germination.
> Ken
>
> Diane Whitehead wrote:
>>
>> In the dim recesses of memory, I think a friend and I did something
>> similar to induce rooting in rhododendron cuttings.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 9-Jan-10, at 6:38 PM, Bill Chaney wrote:
>>
>>> does a germinating seed release a stimulation cue to the seeds
>>> around it? And further, if this is the case, can we further use
>>> this to help germinate the particularly hard to germinate seeds?
>>
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
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>
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