Chilling requirement of commercial Echinacea seed

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of the moist chilling of seed on germination of Echinacea angustifolia DC. and Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, and the effect of seed coat trimming on the germination of E. angustifolia. Seed of E. angustifolia stratified for more than 2 weeks achieved maximum germination rates of 65–80%. Maximum germination rates of E. purpurea (84%) were unaffected by periods of stratification. The time to maximum germination declined as the length of the stratification period increased. Trimming the seed coat of E. angustifolia had no significant effect on the germination rate of unstratified seed, but halved the germination rate of seed stratified for more than 2 weeks. © 1996 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.