RE: Fungal growth on seeds

>Date Sun, 17 Jan 1999 132500 +0000
>From Alison Brooks <Alison@flin.demon.co.uk>
>Subject Fungal growth on seeds
>
>I recently set several pots of seeds into my cool greenhouse to
>stratify. Some of these now have fungal growth sprouting from them. No
>signs of growth.
>
>Suggestions for rescuing the seeds? They haven't really had time to
>stratify properly (2-3 weeks, though some of the other seeds which
>supposedly also need stratifying have already sprouted).
>
>Alison Brooks

I'm a north central states native prairie species propagator who does a lot
of moist stratification in the fridge.  When I see fungus or mold starting
in a group of seeds I just put them in the freezer for a few days and when
I put them back in the fridge the fungal growth has disappeared.  In fact I
usually put the whole lot of seeds in the freezer at least once during the
stratification process.  Some people say freezing can harm the seeds but
these little guys freeze and thaw repeatedly if they spend the winter in
the top 1/2 inch of soil on that Wisconsin hillside.  It seems to stop the
fungus.  It would be hard to put pots into the freezer but how about
setting them outside for a few days.

Jim MacDonald



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