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Influence of Oxygen, Sodium Hypochlorite, and Dehulling on Germination of Green Needlegrass Seed (Stipa viridula Trin.)¹

Rcsearch was conducted to determine methods for reducing dormancy and tests for predicting germination of green needlegrass seed (Stipa viridula Trim). ‘Lodorm’ and native seed were used in the study. Dehulling new and after-ripened 1967 seed increased germination 38.5 and 47.4 percentage units, respectively, and of new and after-ripened 1968 seed by 57.3 and 77.9 percentage units, respectively. After-ripening occurred independently of the lemma and palea and was nearly complete 8 months after harvest. Treating intact seed with sodium hypochlorite increased germination of 1967 after-ripened seed from 42.6 to 87.9%, of 1968 new seed from 3.8 to 43.6%, and of 1968 after-ripened seed from 12.8 to 72.0%. Germinating intact seed in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere increased germination of 1967 after-ripened seed from 57.8 to 86.6%, of 1968 new seed from 3.0 to 29.0%, and of 1968 after-ripened seed from 13.5 to 71.2%.

The results obtained from dehulling, sodium hypochlorite, and oxygen treatments indicate that dormancy may be at least partially controlled by the following factors: impermeability of the lemma and palea to gas exchange, a mechanical barrier imposed by the lemma and palea which physically prevents coleoptile and radicle emergence, low seed vigor, or an oxidizable inhibitor present in the intact seed. Tetrazolium viability was a good predictor of germination of dehulled after-ripened seeds.

Key Words: Dormancy • After-ripening • Tetrazolium viability

² Formerly NDEA Fellow (now Research Plant Physiologist, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Northern Great Plains Research Center, Mandan, N. Dak. 58554) and formerly Associate Professor, North Dakota State University, Fargo, N. Dak. 58102 (now Professor of Agronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65201).

Received for publication May 7, 1970.