Hydrogen Peroxide & Seeds

[welj31]

Here is a little info on seeds and Hydrogen Peroxide.

More details at :

 

http://morasc.nmsu.edu/docs/Hydrogen%20Peroxide%20Seed%20Scarification%20of%20New%20Mexico%20collections%20of%20Ribes%20Cereum

 

 

 

 

To be effective, a chemical scarification treatment must adequately degrade seed coat structures without causing damage to embryonic tissues. The choice of chemical scarification agent for a given species is influenced by seed size, seed coat thickness and seed susceptibility to oxidative damage. For species with hard, thick seed coats, a stronger agent such as concentrated sulfuric acid may be preferable, whereas a milder agent such as 3% hydrogen peroxide may be more effective for small-seeded species such as R. cereum. In a related study, Symphoricarpos oreophilus A. Gray seeds required a 30-minute sulfuric acid scarification treatment to obtain optimal germination, but seed weights for that species ranged from 5.2 to 10.2 mg per seed depending on collection (Rosner et ai., 2001). Seed weights for R. cereum in this study were 1.3 to 2.5 mg per seed depending on collection. In a separate study examining the effect of acid scarification on New Mexico collections of R. cereum, only half of the collections responded positively to treatment and optimal treatment duration was variable (Rosner, 2000). As the sulfuric acid soak duration was increased from two to eight minutes, the number of seeds rotting during stratification and germination testing increased from 17% to 35%. This increase in rotting is associated with an increase in seed damage, as seeds damaged or weakened by excessive treatment lose their ability to resist pathogenic deterioration (Murdoch and Ellis, 1992).

Success offour-hour soaks in 3% hydrogen peroxide in this study is partially attributable to low occurrence of seed damage as suggested by a low mean percentage of rotten seeds following treatment (1.8%). An increase in number of seeds rotting with increasing duration of hydrogen peroxide soak beyond four hours parallels the decrease in germination resulting from longer treatment.

 

Rapid germination following sowing increases the likelihood a seedling will resist disease and overcome the early emergence phase (Leadem, 1988). However, seeds germinating in stratification become susceptible to pathogens, are vulnerable to damage during handling and are less likely to survive sowing compared to non-dormant ungerminated seeds. In the present study, it was not possible to stratify seeds effectively without incurring a large number of seeds germinating in stratification. Hydrogen peroxide treatment, however, increased total germination (germination in stratification plus germination following stratification) without further increasing the number of seeds germinating in stratification. Methods to reduce the number of seeds germinating during stratification treatment are needed.

[welj31]

Works wonders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wow are you soaking in all hp? and how long? thanks

[TajMahal]

Thanks IJ..!!

 

More cool stuff to try:thumbsu:

[welj31]

No. I usually tell people a capfull per ounce of tap water. I however will put a splash in a 1 oz. shot glass. LOL It is the 17.5% or sometimes whatever Wally Mart is selling.

 

Soak for a minimum of 24 hours. These babies went over about another 8 hours. Ensures that the hull will seperate. Notice the Oxygen bubbles on the roots. I use the same water mix on the paper towel to keep the black mold from appearing.

Thanks See ya soon