Research Article, J Biodivers Manage Forestry Vol: 3 Issue: 4
Effects of Scarification and Stratification on Germination of Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) seeds
| Jessica S. Kurylo1* and Anton G. Endress1,2 | |
| 1Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1816 S. Oak St, Champaign, Illinois, 61820, USA | |
| 2Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA | |
| Corresponding author : Jessica S. Kurylo Burnely Campus, Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Blvd, Richmond, VIC 3121 Australia E-mail: jesssicakurylo@gmail.com |
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| Received: June 10, 2014 Accepted: November 21, 2014 Published: November 25, 2014 | |
| Citation: Kurylo JS, Endress AG (2014) Effects of Scarification and Stratification on Germination of Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) seeds. J Biodivers Manage Forestry 3:4. doi:10.4172/2327-4417.1000134 |
Abstract
Effects of Scarification and Stratification on Germination of Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) seeds
Rhamnus cathartica is an invasive shrub from Eurasia. A limited number of investigations have reported on the species’ germination requirements. This study looked at the effects of acid scarification and stratification at different moisture levels on germination. Both scarification and stratification hastened germination and shortened the germination period, but germination rates were significantly reduced with scarification. Moist and wet stratification without scarification yielded the highest germination rates. Results suggest R. cathartica seeds may possess two levels of dormancy. Aside from needed removal from the fruit, the seed coat also appears to promote some level of dormancy given the decreased time to germination after both scarification and stratification.
