ISHS Acta Horticulturae 310: International Symposium on Fruit Growing in Tropical Highlands
TREATMENTS TO IMPROVE THE GERMINATION OF 'OKINAWA' PEACH |
| Author: | O. Duarte |
| Abstract:
Different treatments were tried in 'Okinawa' peach seeds: with and without endocarpium, with or without a 24 h soak in water or gibberellic acid (GA) at 50, 100, 400 and 1 600 ppm; and different periods (20,30,40 days) of moist chilling (stratification) in plastic bags 1.5/1 000" in moist peat moss at 5°C. Endocarp removal significantly improved germination. A 24h soak in water or GA prior to moist chilling also improved it in relation to non soaked seeds. Although GA soaks (50 to 1 600 ppm) without moist chilling gave about 55% germination and subsequent normal growth, the best results were obtained with 24 h water soak + 20 days chilling, and 200 or 400 ppm GA soak + 30 days chilling without endocarpium, with 70, 70 and 71% germination respectively. GA + chilling improved seedling growth. 'Double' seeds, produced by about 9% of pits, germinated and grew almost as well as singles and thus could be used with little disadvantage. A thick plastic or hermetic box gave a low germination porcentage with heavy rotting due probably to lack of proper oxigen supply. | |
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