Post by sixty40 on Oct 18, 2014 18:32:28 GMT -5
Thanks to rvacarnivors, I just got my hands on my first ever batch of sarracenia seeds. I was researching how to germinate them bc I know they require cold stratification and I came across this interesting bit of info on bestcarnivorousplants.com. Was wondering if anyone here has any experience with giberrellic acid (couldn't find anything about it in this forum) and thought maybe y'all would be interested in reading about it as a replacement for the lengthy cold stratification process. From the site:
Artificial stimulation of seed germination using gibberellic acid
Gibberellins were discovered approximately fifty years ago. They are a group of related substances forming a class of plant hormones. Today approximately 90 molecules based on the basic gibberelline structure are known. These hormones are weak, stabile organic acids which fit into the terpenes. Intensive research continues with many aspects of the effects of gibberellins remaining poorly understood.
Seeds of many plant species require exposure to low or high temperature within a certain period before they will germinate. This process is called thermal stratification. Alternatively, the hormone gibberelline can be used to break such dormancy. Apparently, there are some factors that inhibit germination, causing dormancy, such as abscissic acid (ABA). It is likely that the proportion of gibberellins to germination inhibitors, such as ABA and auxin, also determines how long dormancy lasts. Germination inhibitors are removed via cold stratification or by increasing the concentration of gibberellin. Abscissic acid may be removed by soaking the seeds in water for a period of time. Seeds of European species butterworts (Pinguicula) will germinate within several days if sown directly in water. The storage of these seeds in water and in a cold environment allows seed viability to be prolonged for as long as several years due to ABA removal. It also appears that uniform germination of the seeds of Drosera arcturi is enhanced when the seeds lie on damp or water saturated media and are subjected to temperature changes. The artificial use of gibberellins to break dormancy is useful if there are mostly inhibitory substances in the seeds, especially those such as auxins. Gibberellins may also compensate for poor lighting, increasing germination rates.
To stimulate germination of CP seeds, a 1-0.1% solution of gibberellic acid (GA3) has proved to be effective. To prepare the desired solution we place 1g of GA3 in 1 litre of sterile distilled water. Clean seed should be soaked in this solution for 24 hours, soaking seeds enclosed in a hard coat for longer, at most three days. Keep the seeds at room temperature with occasional careful shaking. The seeds may then be sown. The prepared GA3 solution may be stored in the refrigerator (-10-0°C) and reused.
Seed germination rates of poorly germinating species, such as those from the genera Byblis, Drosophyllum, Drosera, Genlisea, Heliamphora, Nepenthes, Sarracenia, may be greatly increased via the use of GA3. The application of GA3 leads to uniform germination in a shorter time, breaking the dormancy exhibited by many seeds.
Artificial stimulation of seed germination using gibberellic acid
Gibberellins were discovered approximately fifty years ago. They are a group of related substances forming a class of plant hormones. Today approximately 90 molecules based on the basic gibberelline structure are known. These hormones are weak, stabile organic acids which fit into the terpenes. Intensive research continues with many aspects of the effects of gibberellins remaining poorly understood.
Seeds of many plant species require exposure to low or high temperature within a certain period before they will germinate. This process is called thermal stratification. Alternatively, the hormone gibberelline can be used to break such dormancy. Apparently, there are some factors that inhibit germination, causing dormancy, such as abscissic acid (ABA). It is likely that the proportion of gibberellins to germination inhibitors, such as ABA and auxin, also determines how long dormancy lasts. Germination inhibitors are removed via cold stratification or by increasing the concentration of gibberellin. Abscissic acid may be removed by soaking the seeds in water for a period of time. Seeds of European species butterworts (Pinguicula) will germinate within several days if sown directly in water. The storage of these seeds in water and in a cold environment allows seed viability to be prolonged for as long as several years due to ABA removal. It also appears that uniform germination of the seeds of Drosera arcturi is enhanced when the seeds lie on damp or water saturated media and are subjected to temperature changes. The artificial use of gibberellins to break dormancy is useful if there are mostly inhibitory substances in the seeds, especially those such as auxins. Gibberellins may also compensate for poor lighting, increasing germination rates.
To stimulate germination of CP seeds, a 1-0.1% solution of gibberellic acid (GA3) has proved to be effective. To prepare the desired solution we place 1g of GA3 in 1 litre of sterile distilled water. Clean seed should be soaked in this solution for 24 hours, soaking seeds enclosed in a hard coat for longer, at most three days. Keep the seeds at room temperature with occasional careful shaking. The seeds may then be sown. The prepared GA3 solution may be stored in the refrigerator (-10-0°C) and reused.
Seed germination rates of poorly germinating species, such as those from the genera Byblis, Drosophyllum, Drosera, Genlisea, Heliamphora, Nepenthes, Sarracenia, may be greatly increased via the use of GA3. The application of GA3 leads to uniform germination in a shorter time, breaking the dormancy exhibited by many seeds.