Sarracenia seed

=?ISO-2022-JP?B?GyRAOWIwZiEhOHkbKEo=?= (BXA04262@niftyserve.or.jp)
Sat, 10 Dec 1994 22:23:00 +0900

Dear All,

Fresh Sarracenia seeds have mighty germination power, but on the other hand
they have something repressing their germination. Cool temperatures and
water (or weakly acidic water like from wet peat) break down or wash out
the repressors of germination. Old (Aged) Sarracenia seeds have little
germination power, but still have something repressing germination
(substances or factors). They also have lessened resistances to bacteria
and fungi.

This is often in case with wild plants, but many vegetables and flowers
lose this phenomenon after some generations of cultivation, selection, and
breeding.

I think it is important to plant Sarracenia seeds quickly, and to keep the
pot and soil clean when sowing aged Sarracenia seeds.

I think my method (which Barry described), and those Mr.Clarke Brunt and
Mr.Andreas Wistuba used are good and safe. And I also think freezing seeds
is not necessarily fatal to them.

In the method I used, I do not know whether there are or are not any effects
of alternating temperature. In any case I think the stratification is
necessary.

Why did I use the freeze/thaw method?
1)It is not always fresh seeds I sow.
2)It takes approximately one week (not a few months) till sowing.
(There are substantial differences---more than six month growth---between
autumn seedlings and spring seedlings.)
3)I always sow many Sarracenia seeds.
But I can not put many seeds (pots) in my small refrigerator long time.
Because there are many foods (not for CP, for my wife and I!) in the
refrigerator.
4)Probably I am a short tempered man.

Some of my friends wash Sarracenia seeds with a synthetic detergent.
They have some experience in successfully germinating Sarracenia seeds
within four weeks after sowing without the stratification (cool and freeze
period). One of them told me it is in order to let water in and wash out
of the seed coat something repressing germination.

My posting are my personal opinion. I am not a botanist. I have no
scientific base.

Kind regards from Japan
Isao Takai
BXA04262@niftyserve.or.jp

P.S. Does anybody in this CP newsgroup have any scientific information of
Sarracenia seed germination, dormancy and activation?

P.P.S. Barry-san domo arigato!