Investigation of Seed Treatments and Fertilizer on Growth ofPenstemon tubaeflorus

Abstract

Penstemon tubaeflorus is a North American prairie forb of conservation concern.Protocols for seed germination and transplant production involving fertilization are needed for conservation purposes. Our objectives were to compare techniques for breaking seed dormancy and increasing germination, and to investigate fertilizer on growth of Penstemon tubaeflorus. Seed treatments were hickory smoke seasoning solution (1:10, 1:100, 1:500, and 1:1,000), light vs. dark, prairie plant ash solution (2, 4, 8, and 16 g/L), and cold moist stratification (1 or 2 mo at 4°C). Seeds were germinated in Petri dishes in germination chambers and counted for 21 d. For hickory solutions, 1:100 had the highest germination (51%), and seeds germinated in light, but not in the dark. For ash solutions, 8 g/L (6%) and control (4%) germinations were higher than 2 g/L with 4 g/L and 16 g/L being intermediate. Germination increased for both stratification durations (37%) compared to control (2%). For fertilizer studies, seeds were planted in soilless mix with no fertilizer, liquid fertilizer (20-20-20 at 1.25 g/L water), or solid fertilizer (14-14-14 slow release at 14.6 g/L mix) in growth chambers. After 7 wk, shoot fresh mass, leaf number, leaf area, crown diameter, root length, and shoot dry mass were measured. Seedling growth was greatest with solid fertilizer compared to control and liquid fertilizer, which were similar. Overall, hickory solution at 1:100 with light produced the highest percent germination among all treatments, and solid fertilizer was most effective for transplant development. These findings are useful for management or restoration of P. tubaeflorus populations.

Impacts of greenhouse fertilization and planting season on survival and reproductive potential of Silene regia transplants

“…There was no advantage to using liquid fertilizer every week versus every other week. Our results showing increased seedling size with slow‐release fertilizer agree with those for Penstemon tubaeflorus (Annis et al 2014) and for Schizachyrium sanguineum (de Oliveira et al 2022), although liquid fertilizer also increased seedling size for S. regia , but did not for P. tubaeflorus (Annis et al 2014). While the number of leaves on plants before planting differed between planting seasons it was not a consistent effect.…”

“…In the case of seedlings of Penstemon tubaeflorus (white wand beardtongue) grown in growth chambers, Annis et al (2014) reported increased shoot mass, number of leaves, and root length in seedlings with slow‐release fertilizer and no increased growth with liquid fertilizer compared to control with no fertilizer. For Schizachyrium sanguineum (crimson bluestem), controlled release fertilizer resulted in increased growth of seedlings in a plant nursery (de Oliveira et al 2022).…”

The Effect of a Biomass Increase on The Carbon Fixation Rates of A. Thaliana

“…The cold treatment of A. thaliana seeds relates in a similar manner to that of seed sterilization, as both of these tasks allow for a higher seed survival rate, in addition to an increase in germination rates (Annis et al 2014). Ultimately, this procedure is quite simple and only requires microcentrifuge tubes and sterilized water, which can be created by boiling water and allowing it to cool to room temperature.…”