Effect of various lengths of cold stratification period on the germination of wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis) seed samples harvested in the Czech Republic

Miroslav Šulitka, Ivan Kuneš, Martin Baláš, Kateřina Pešková, Přemysl Šedivka, Tomáš Holeček and Vilém Podrázský
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Miroslav Šulitka: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Ivan Kuneš: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Martin Baláš: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Kateřina Pešková: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Přemysl Šedivka: Department of Wood Processing and Biomaterials, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Tomáš Holeček: Department of Wood Processing and Biomaterials, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Vilém Podrázský: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Journal of Forest Science, 2025, vol. 71, issue 4, 171-181

Abstract: The paper deals with the assessment of the influence of the length of cold stratification period on the germination parameters of seeds of wild service tree [Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz]. The germination tests (4 × 100 seeds) were conducted in two runs in 2020 and 2021; they were performed for three seed lots and three cold stratification periods (two, three and four months) before the testing of germination in each run. The values of germination energy and germination capacity were assessed, and the germination rate was computed. The results showed that the two-month cold stratification period has not been sufficient to overcome the dormancy of tested seeds. Regardless of the year in which the tests were conducted, seeds stratified for two months showed almost zero germination. For seeds treated with three- and four-month cold stratification, the germination percentage varied from ca. 5% to 32% and from ca. 13% to 46%, respectively. Our results basically correspond with findings reported in the reviewed literature. In 2020, the seeds subjected to four-month stratification performed significantly better than the seeds subjected to three-month stratification. However, in 2021, the seeds stratified for three months reached slightly better results. Four-month stratification also led to an increased percentage of prematurely germinated seeds during stratification. To conclude, the two-month period of cold stratification proved to be insufficient and at least three months of cold stratification are needed to obtain the adequate germination of seeds in subsequent laboratory tests.

Keywords: germination capacity; germination energy; germination rate; moist chilling; premature germination; pretreatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:71:y:2025:i:4:id:61-2024-jfs

DOI: 10.17221/61/2024-JFS

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