Re: Digest Number 570


Margaret -- thanks for the note regarding hydrogen peroxide as a germination stimulant. It's worth a try. I seem to remember that orchid hybridizers have suggested using this for the same purpose. Because of frustations with getting Siberian seeds to germinate "on command", I recently spent some time searching the literature on germination enhancers. It's quite confusing! People have tested everything from hot water treatments, to concentrated sulfuric acid, peroxides, bleach, potassium nitrate, giberellic acid, ethylene, thiourea etc. No one has tried pixy dust as far as I can tell. All seem to work in some situations and not in others. Maybe it depends on the type of seed and its condition. Thiourea seemed like the most generally effective agent -- but then people also talk about it being toxic to the plants if you go too high in concentration. Theories about why these compounds may work range from enhancing oxygen levels in the seed to destroying germination inhibitors to d!
estruction of the impervious seed coat that then allows water and oxygen to enter. All is comjecture and no proof as far as I could see. I do believe that soaking the seeds in bleach in the past has speeded germination in some cases for me -- but it isn't the universal solution. Nor is soaking and washing before cold temperature stratification. Some crosses still sit around for two or three months before they start to germinate (often sparsely) while others pop out right away. Does anyone else have a good idea for getting the seeds to follow my schedule rather than theirs? 

Bob Hollingworth. Hoping for global warming as soon as possible.  
--
Bob and Judy Hollingworth

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