Aerated Water Soak Increases Red Oak Seed Germination and Seedling Emergence

1991

2 Abb., 5 Tab., 14 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

9716

200089496

Red oak (Quercus rubra L.) acorns were collected from three trees in September, placed in plastic bags, and held at 2C for 150 days. Acorns were given 0-, 10-, or 14-day aerated water soaks before germination tests were conducted. Acorns from two trees, given a 14-day soak, had significantly higher germination capacity and uniformity than untreated acorns. In another test, acorns were given a 10-day aerated water soak treatment and returned to 2C for 30 and 60 days. After 30 days, treated acorns had superior germination compared with untreated acorns. After 60 days, there were no significant differences in germination between treated and untreated acorns. In a greenhouse study, acorns given an aerated water soak had higher shoot- emergence capacity than untreated acorns. However, the aerated water soak treatment did not increase seedling efficiency, the ratio between the number of plantable seedlings and the number of seeds sown.