ZLV Online

Abstract

The aim of our work was to determine the best stratification conditions for overcoming dormancy in the seeds of red dogwood (Swida sanguinea). The temperature effect on germination of extracted Swida sanguinea seeds was studied for two years. Three seed lots were exposed to cold (five months) and/or warm (one or two months) – cold (two, three or four months) stratification. Cold stratification for Swida seeds at 4°C should last minimally for five months; the germination achieved 59 – 85% and was significantly higher in comparison with the shortest three-months long warm-cold stratification. The seed germination after warm-cold stratification running three months, with the first month at 20°C, was significantly lower (35 – 39%) in comparison with all other treatments. The significantly highest germination (83 – 98%) was found after warm-cold stratification running five months with the first month at 20°C in comparison with three or four months long warm-cold stratification. The optimal temperature for the warm period of stratification is 20°C. A decrease in temperature from 20 to 15°C caused a non-significant decrease in total germination (77 – 92%) as well as premature germination during the subsequent cold period. Germination did not even increase after five months lasting warm-cold stratification with two first months at 20°C. Sowing of untreated seeds in the autumn resulted in signiicantly higher seedling stands (76 – 83%) than sowing of seeds running warm-cold stratification treatment for three of four months with the first month at 20 °C.