Variability in thermal response of primed and non-primed seeds of squirreltail [Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey and Elymus multisetus (J. G. Smith) M. E. Jones].

ABSTRACT: Bottlebrush squirreltail [Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey = Sitanion hystrix (Nutt.) J. G. Smith] and big squirrel-tail [Elymus multisetus (J. G. Smith) M. E. Jones = Sitanion jubatum (J. G. Smith)] have a broad geographical distribution and have been identified as high priority species for restoration of degraded rangelands in the western United States. These rangelands exhibit high annual and seasonal variability in seedbed microclimate. The objective of this study was to examine variability in thermal response of both primed and non-primed seeds of these species in the context of field-variable temperature regimes. Seed priming treatments were selected to optimize germination rate in a low-temperature test environment. Primed and non-primed seeds were evaluated for laboratory germination

SUBMITTER: Hardegree SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4233822 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature