The role of stratification and light on seed germination in pernettya mucronata (l.f.) gaudich ex. G. don

Abstract

Pernettya mucronata (Ericaceae) is a Fuegian species from Argentina. The present work was carried out to study the effects of increasing stratification times as well as the effects of light and dark on germination. The percentage germination at 60 days was significantly higher in the light (45.6%) than in the dark (29.4%). The percentage germination at 60 days was also significantly higher after a 300 h chilling pre-treatment (40.4%) compared with that of unstratified seeds (22.0%). Stratified seeds, germinated either in the light or in the dark, attained the maximum percentage germination at 20 days after the beginning of germination. Unstratified seeds attained the maximum percentage germination at 30 days. © 1994 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.