Effect of water bath temperature and stratification on germination of pecan seed

Abstract

Parameters were defined to germinate pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) C. Koch] seeds in aerated water followed by container planting. Germination was not affected by the ratio of seeds to water in the germination containers. Highest germination rates with the greatest uniformity in germination were obtained with a water bath temperature of 32 °C. Stratification up to 188 days increased the rate of germination, but the largest response was between no stratification and 56 days (6.5 days vs. 2.3 days to reach 50% germination, respectively). Seeds that were germinated in a water bath, then planted in containers, achieved 50% emergence in 4.7 days compared to 12.4 days for direct-planted seed. Emergence was more uniform when seeds were germinated in water before planting compared with seeds that were directly planted in containers (7.0 days vs. 9.5 days between 10% and 90% emergence, respectively). Also, by germinating the seeds before planting, nonviable seeds were eliminated, resulting in 100% emergence compared to 76% emergence when planted directly.