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Re: Acid scarification?


From: Christopher P. Lindsey <lindsey@mallorn.com>

>I have a question about acid scarification.  A couple of the trees
>that I was going to try growing (Cercis and Koelreuteria) require
>acid scarification.  Fortunately, I was able to get my hands on (not
>literally, of course) some sulfuric acid concentrate.

>What do all of you do?

While Michael A. Dirr recommends acid scarification for many of
the woodies that he worked with, Norman C. Deno advises very
strongly against the use of acid on the grounds that it is dangerous
to use, and that the temperature, time of exposure, and concentration
level are species dependent and difficult to manage outside of the
laboratory.   For any seed to imbibe moisture, the scarification
technique used is not a specific requirement , as long as it is
successful (in my opinion).  Therefore, if a soaked seed refuses to
swell for me, I use another method of abrading, and another, etc.
and when all of those penetration techniques have failed, then I
simply sow the seed outdoors where the patient abraders reside.

Prof. Deno does cite some references to the stimulation of germination
by nitrogen compounds, and to that end, my seed soak does include
one teaspoon per quart of kno3 (potassium nitrate).  I don't make any
claims for it, but if activity within the seed coat is the only clue to sowing
readiness for seeds with impervious coats, anything which could
stimulate that visual change is useful to try.

The (Asle & Tom) perennial seed germination database has just been
updated to include more than 1700 species (and cultivars).  It is now
presented in three separate pages of relatively equal length to reduce
loading time.

manytimes,
tom
zone 5a, NE Illinois, -21ºF Min
http://www.anet-chi.com/~manytimes
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