Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
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Online Publication Date: 01 Dec 1999

Seed Germination of Rhododendron chapmanii: Influence of Light and Temperature

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Page Range: 193 – 196
DOI: 10.24266/0738-2898-17.4.193
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Abstract

Seeds of Rhododendron chapmanii A. Gray (Chapman's rhododendron) were germinated at 25C (77F) or 8/16 hr thermoperiods of 25/15C (77/59F) or 30/20C (86/68F) with daily photoperiods of 0 (total darkness), ¼, ½, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 or 24 hr. For all temperatures, no germination occurred during a 30-day period for seeds not subjected to light. At 25C (77F) germination was a function of photoperiod. The longer the photoperiod the greater the germination with 30-day germination ≥90% for photoperiods ≥8 hr. Alternating temperatures, particularly 25/15C (77/59F), enhanced germination when light was limiting. The highest germination (80%) by day 30 for seeds at 30/20C (86/68F) was realized with a 24-hr photoperiod, whereas 30-day germination ≥ 90% occurred at 25/15C (77/59F) and 25C (77F) for photoperiods of 8 and 12 hr and 8, 12, and 24 hr, respectively.

Copyright: Copyright, All Rights Reserved 1999

Contributor Notes

This research was funded in part by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695-7609. Technical assistance of Juan R. Acedo, William M. Reece, and the staff of the Southeastern Plant Environment Laboratory (NC State University Phytotron) is gratefully acknowledged.

2Graduate Student.

3Professor.

4Assistant Professor, University of Florida, Milton Campus, P.O. Box 3634, Milton, FL 32572-3634.

5Director, Plant Development Services, Inc., 17325 County Road 68, Loxley, AL 36551.

Received: 01 Sept 1999
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