Re: simple question

From: Chris Teichreb (cteichreb@hotmail.com)
Date: Thu Jun 22 2000 - 08:40:41 PDT 

Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2000 08:40:41 PDT
From: "Chris Teichreb" <cteichreb@hotmail.com>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg1867$foo@default>
Subject: Re: simple question

Hi Tony,

>Hello everyone, Nothing to do with the rain forests I'm afraid.
>This year I have had lower germination rates from my Sarracenia
>seed. Question: Are Sarracenia seed affected by fusarium/ other
>fungi before germination? Instead of seeing seedlings germinate,
>then 'damping' off, is it possible the fungi destroy the seeds
>earlier? (some of my germination rates have only been 20 %)
>
>All the best, Tony
>

   Interesting that you brought up this question. While I have
found that the seedlings are susceptible to damping off, especially
when kept in a damp, dark, coolish environment, I have found that
the seed itself is very resistant to fungus.

   I often stratify my Sarr seed on moist paper towel in a ziploc
bag in the fridge for about a month. By the end of that time,
most of the seeds are covered with fungus. However, I still
get great germination rates (80-100%) even without rinsing off
the seed. I think this resistance may be due to their relatively
thick seed coat (thick compared to something like a sundew) and
the fact that these seed often naturally lie in damp, moist, dark
environments in the wild before germinating.

My two cents,

Chris 

--
Chris Teichreb

http://www.geocities.com/cteichreb ("Coastal Carnivores",
my homepage)

http://www.nurserysite.com/clubs/pnwcarnivorous (Pacific
Northwest Carnivorous Plant Club)

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