RE: Quick germinators....

MBT1159@ACS.TAMU.EDU
Fri, 24 Feb 1995 15:37:01 -0600 (CST)

Do you think they might be using vigorized seed?

Vigorization is where you put seeds into a potassium salt
solution for
a period of time to get the seed going biochemically, but the salt
delays radicle emergence. Usually it's done for a day to 3 days. The
seeds are then dried and planted out at a later date (Not too late,
though! They're biochemically active now. Respiring and all that
stuff.) Germination is usually increases as well as uniformity of
germination. Sometimes it works well with hard to germinate seed. This
has been done with primarily food crops and "normal" horticultural
crops. I haven't tried it with any of my CP seed, but it's not a bad
idea to try.

Matt Thompson
Texas A&M University