Flaming Fabaceae--Using an Alcohol Flame to Break Seed Dormancy

Abstract

Soaking Fabaceae seeds in alcohol and then passing them through a flame for 2 to 3 s is a quick and easy way of promoting germinatiion of at least 8 species of Hawaiian legumes. In addition to stimulating germination, the technique effectively sterilizes seeds for in vitro germination for micropropagation or for germination in the greenhouse.