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Re: Acid scarification? (fwd)


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 04:44:47 -0800 (PST)
From: Russell Johnstone <avovia@acenet.com.au>
To: seeds-list@eskimo.com
Subject: Re: Acid scarification?



----------
> From: Christopher P. Lindsey <lindsey@mallorn.com>
> To: seeds-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: Acid scarification?
> Date: Wednesday, February 11, 1998 4:31 PM
> 
> 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.
> 
Chris

I think you will find sulfuric acid is only used to thin or soften hard
seed coats to allow quicker imbibition of water and hence the quicker onset
of the germination process which otherwise may take "years". 

Using conc. sulfuric acid is >>>very dangerous<<< both to you and to the
seed.

I have read about the technique but in all my time have never known any one
to use it. The success rate, as % germination, appears variable and not
very high. You have no real means of knowing how much treatment is needed.
Where ever you see this treatment recomended I would respectfully suggest
you look for alternatives
With thin-coated seeds a careful nick with a sharp blade sufficient to make
a small hole but not big/deep enough to damage the endosperm should work
quite well. Rubbing the seeds on emery paper or some other abrasive surface
to make a small hole is equally good and probably easier to perform than
cutting.
Avoid abrading/cutting near the hilum area - that little oval area where
the seed was joined to the pod - because that is where all the action takes
place.

Now, after all that I don't know anything about Cercis, but I have grown
Koelreuteria.  Two years ago I took seed pods from a Koelreuteria and about
two weeks later planted  52 seed in a general purpose potting mix - not
seed raising mix - in individual "native tubes" (a 2 inch square X 6 inch
deep pot which sits in a specially designed rack which keeps the bottom of
the pot about half an inch above the ground effectively "air-pruning" any
emergent roots).
The rack of pots was put in the shade house where it was kept moist by rain
or hose. Our winters seldom drop below minus 5 Celsius (about 23F) and in
spring up came 49 seedlings. Fresh seed helps.

Good luck in whatever approach you take.
Russell

p.s. I had 91 items when I logged on tonight after two days away. Yours was
the 15th  and, as I reply as I read, I hope I don't duplicate what might be
further down the list!
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