Seed Growing Propagation Lecture 2
Vocabulary Seedling Seedling is plant that comes from seed
Vocabulary Germination Seed makes root and shoot Picture shows germination
Vocabulary Seed Viability Seed Viability- if a seed is capable of germinating and growing into a plant
Vocabulary Physical Seed Dormancy No hole in seed coat water can not get in so no germination Physical dormancy- seeds have methods of making sure seeds start to grow when environment is good for the seeds to grow Often seed have seed coat that has no hole No hole means water can not get into seed Without water germination will not happen
Vocabulary Liquid Liquid is like water and liquids take shape of container Liquid in glass
Vocabulary Physiological dormancy- seed have methods like a liquid that stops it from growing. Once the liquid is removed from the seed, the seed will grow into plant
Vocabulary Scarification- using physical or chemical methods to put hole in the seed coat so water can get to the seed Stratification- making seed think it is outside in nature. Usually hot temperatures used so seed think summer has come Cold temperatures are used to make seed think winter has come
Vocabulary Gibberellic Acid- a chemical that can help seeds to germinate Media the different blends of soils that are found in plants that are grown in pots Aeration: to supply a soil that contains water with air
Vocabulary Sowing Sowing seed by hand Sowing is to place seeds on media Ways to sow can be by using hands or use machine
Vocabulary Sprinkler- used to give plants water or make air wet Sprinkler head Sprinkler
Sprinkler heads make water break into small pieces called droplets Vocabulary Water droplets Water droplet
Vocabulary Mist Mist is very small droplets that stay in air for a little time Sprinkler heads can make mist mist
Vocabulary Electricity Electricity can be used to create warm temperature
Vocabulary Media- is used in place of soil it is often made from a combination of : Peat Moss Perlite Vermiculite
Picture of materials used to make Peat Moss is found in such places as Northern Canada. It is made up of partially decayed plants Peat Moss holds lots of water media
Picture of Perlite Perlite is a made from rock It is used in a media to create spaces for air
Vermiculite Vermiculite is made from rock. Vermiculite helps to keep water and also helps to create spaces in media for air
Peat and Vermiculite mixed together to make media Mixing together either peat moss and vermiculite or peat moss and perlite creates a soil that the plant can use Micropore is a small hole that is filled with water Macropore is a large hole that is filled with air Both Macropores and Micropores are found in soils.
Topics to be covered Requirements for seed germination 1)Viability - test for viability 2) Seed not Dormant - physical dormancy 2a) Scarification methods used to make physical dormancy go away
Topics to be covered Requirements for Seed germination METHODS OF SCARIFICATION- making physical dormancy go away 2b) Mechanical 2c) Hot water Scarification 2d) Acid Scarification
Topics to be covered Requirements for Seed Germination 3) Physiological dormancy Stratification Methods for making physiological dormancy go away a) Cold Moist Stratification b) Warm Moist Stratification c) Gibberellic Acid
Topics to be covered Requirements for Seed Germination 4) Environment need for seed germination a) water b) heat c) aeration d) light
Topics to be covered Requirements for Seed Germination 5) Equipment used a) containers b) bench and watering system c) growth rooms
Topics to be covered Requirements for Seed Germination 6) Media a) common medias used for seed germination
Topics to be covered How to make Native seeds ready for planting 7)Dry seed heads a) equipment used to clean dry seed b) how to clean seed 8)Berries a) equipment used to clean berries b) how to clean seed
Topics to be covered Requirements for Seed Germination 9) Care of seeds during germination 10) Common Pest and Diseases of Seedlings
1) Test for Seed Viability Viability means seed able to germinate A) The cut test B) The Tetrazolium test
A) Seed Cutting Test
Step One in Seed cutting Place the seed on a cutting surface Place the seed so that you will be cutting the seed along the seeds longest side
Step two in Seed cutting Hold seed between two fingers and cut with knife
Step three in seed cutting When you are done the process you will have two halves from one seed
How tell if Seed is Viable A viable seed will have a white color The embryo will completely fill the cavity Cavity is space for embryo to grow in There will be no dark color to the seed
How tell if Seed is Viable The seed to the right has an embryo that is too small to germinate. Embryo not fill cavity Sometimes the seed needs to have some special treatment to make the seed viable Sometimes the seed will not be viable because embryo is too small Embryo too small
How tell if Seed is Viable The seed on the right has a dark area which can be caused by insect or disease You would judge damage seeds as not viable
When to Use Seed Cutting Test Often seed cutting test is used right when you are collecting seeds You can collect some seeds from a plant and test them using the cutting test. If the seeds are good then you would collect seed from this spot If the embryos are too small or damage you would not collect seed from this area
How tell if Seed is Viable Tetrazolium test -tertrazolium is a chemical that test whether or not a seed is alive or not alive. - if baby plant is alive the seed will turn a red color. -we will use this test as part of a lab we will be doing Cut the seed in the same method as the seed cutting method and place face down in petri dish that contains tetrazolium Tetrazolium test
How tell if Seed is Viable Step one in tetrazolium test Cut seeds in half
How tell if Seed is Viable Step two in tetrazolium test Tetrazolium Pour tetrazolium into petri dish Petri dish
How tell if Seed is Viable Step three in tetrazolium test Place the seeds halves in the petri dish so that the side of the seed which shows the embryo is facing downward.- the side with the seed coat should be facing up towards you Seeds
How tell if Seed is Viable Step four in the tetrazolium test Tape up the petri dish and take a piece of masking tape and put your name on the tape
How tell if Seed is Viable Step five in tetrazolium test Place the petri dish in a dark room for at least 24 hours After 24 hours the viable embryos will turn pink or red. Dead embryos will stay white
When to Use Tetrozolium Test Better test than cutting test Use to make sure your cutting test is correct
2) Physical Dormancy Physical dormancy is often caused by the seed coat Sometimes we want to grow native plants next spring; but, their seed coats won t t let water into seed early enough so we need to use methods to make physical dormancy go away The methods we use to make physical dormancy go away is called scarification Scarification is putting a hole in seed coat to let water in
2a)Scarification Why we need to do scarification In nature the seed coat stops water from entering the seed to soon. Without water a seed will not germinate The seed coat will go away over time and often by the next spring the seed coat will let water into seed. In scarifying seeds you are like nature and helping water to go through seed coat Scarification lets water enter the seed so germination is possible
2b) Ways of Making Physical Dormancy go away 2b) Physical - the seed coat needs to be have hole - you can use a knife or sand paper to put hole in seed coat Using knife to make hole in seed coat is Mechanical scarification
Methods of making physical dormancy go away Mechanical Scarification Sand paper can also be used to over come physical seed dormancy Sand paper can be very rough and when using sand paper you rub the seed coat until it is thin Sand paper has little pieces of rock on paper. Moving sandpaper back and forth makes hole in seed coat
Some seed coats are wax on outside Some seed coats have a wax coat that stops water from getting into seed Candle is made from wax candle
Methods of making physical dormancy go away c) Hot water Scarification Hot water scarification is used when seeds have a wax like coating on the seed coat. Seeds that look like the picture to the right often have a wax coating This coating stops water from getting into seed - use temperatures between 65-90C Hot water makes waxes go away so water can get inside
Methods of making physical dormancy go away Hot Water Scarification Heat water to desired temperature and then remove from heat You need 6 times by volume more water than seeds For example:10ml seeds you will need 60ml of hot water Let seeds stay in water for 18-24hrs 24hrs- don t t let seed get really soft Stir occasionally -plant seeds within 4 days of hot water scarification
Methods of making physical dormancy go away d) Acid Scarification Acid is strong liquid eats seed coat Acid is used with seeds that have a very hard seed coat Twice (2 times) the volume of acid is added to the volume of seeds For example to scarify 20ml of seed you will need 40ml of Sulfuric Acid
Methods of making physical dormancy go away Acid Scarification Sulfuric Acid is used a full strength The seeds stay in the acid for the range of 15 minutes to 6 hours. Never put water into acid. Always add acid to water. Make sure that seeds do not have water on the outside of the seed coat
3) Physiological dormancy Physiological dormancy has two major causes The first one is when there is a chemical present around the embryo that stops the embryo from growing The second one is when the embryo is too small ( see slide under cutting test that shows too small embryo) The method for curing physiological dormancy is call stratification
Stratification a) Cold moist stratification: This method is used to make physiological dormancy go away when there is a chemical that stops the seed from growing This method uses a little water and cold to make the seed believe that it has spent a winter in the ground
Step one in Cold Moist Moisten media with water so that the media is not too wet You know you have the media the correct wetness when the media sticks together in a ball but water does not drip out Stratification
Medias used Peat Moss is sometimes used just by itself. Especially when you want the media to hold lots of water Or Peat Moss is mixed with perlite More perlite in media means media holds less water
Step two in Cold Moist Stratification Place the seeds in a plastic bag Whatever the seed volume is add about 3 times more volume of media to the bag Example 20 ml of seed add 60ml of media Make sure the media covers the seeds
Step Three in Cold Moist Stratification Seal the plastic bag Using a marker the will not erase write the Scientific name for the seed species on the bag Place the bag in a refrigerator or a Cold room keep seeds in the cold for the recommended amount of days Keep records Cold room
Refrigerator Refrigerator keeps seeds at cold temperature refrigerator
Care of seeds that are in cold moist stratification Once a week look at the seeds Check for: Media is still wet not dried out The seeds are not sick The seeds have not started to germinate
b) Warm Moist Stratification Can be used to overcome too small embryo in some seeds Same steps used to prepare seed as cold moist stratification For example you moisten the media and use plastic bags
Warm Moist Stratification Instead of using cold the last step in warm moist stratification is to place the seeds in a warm environment such as: Seed germinator Heated Propagation Bench Seed germinator
Warm Moist Stratification Keep seeds between 18-25C Treatment can last 4-124 weeks
c) Gibberellic liquid GA3 or Gibberellic Acid can with some plants be used to replace cold moist Stratification Use concentrations of 10-1000 1000 ppm ppm means part per million Example 10ppm means if have 1,000,000 drops of liquid 10 drops of liquid are GA3 and 999,990 are water. Place seeds in container with GA3 for 12 to 24 hours
4) Environment conditions need for a) water is used by the seed for life and to cause the plant cell to get larger seed germination Water enters cell on left and cell on right will get larger
Water Water is supplied to the seed by the media When a seed is germinating never allow the seed to become dry
b) temperature Most native seeds in British Columbia like temperatures between 18-20C Sometimes seed germination can be helped by having a cooler temperature night time temperature Example day time temperature 20C Night time temperature 13C Remember you are trying to be like nature
c) Aeration A seed needs to get air to survive Don t t plant a seed too deep in media Make sure the media has some Macropores so that air can enter the media
Aeration Planting of Seeds Make sure that when you put seeds in media that the seed is put in hole 3 times bigger than seed That way seed have air to breath
d) light Most seeds do not need complete darkness to germinate Put little media over top of seeds.
5) Equipment a) containers Native seeds are often planted into flats. Seed flat Seed flat The flat is put into the tray. The tray is used to move the flat into the greenhouse trayseed tray
Containers Plug trays are used for seedlings Plug tray
b) benching A propagation bench has 3 main parts Plastic cover Misting Sprinklers Heating cables
b) Benching Plastic Propagation bench On type of benching used to germinate seeds is called a misting bench Plastic keeps water in air high so seeds do not get dry Below plastic cover is a misting system
Watering System Misting system sprinkler Sprinklers Misting system consist of a sprinkler head that sprays very small pieces of water Misting systems makes air wet so seeds not dry out
Misting System Misting system makes small drops of water called droplets Droplets put small amount of water on leaves or media Small water On leaf
Mist Controller Mist is turned on and off by machine called controller
Heating Cables Heating cable iotherm Heating cables keep seeds at good temperature Heating cable uses electricity to make heat Biotherm uses hot water to keep seeds at good temperature
c) Seed Germinator Seed Germinator is a small room that has heat system, light and some times keeps water in the air Seeds are put in room until they germinate
6) Media Media helps seed to germinate by providing water for seed
Media you can use 75% peat moss 25% perlite Mix together and put in the bottom of the flat
Step One Put peat moss/ perlite mix in bottom of flat
Step 2 Use board to push down on media Do not push too hard Board
Step 3 Sow seeds
Step 4 Cover seeds with little layer of Vermiculite
Step 5 Put water on seeds
Step 6 cover Put cover over seeds
Making Seed Ready for Sowing 7)Dry seed heads a) equipment used to clean dry seed b) how to clean seed 8)Berries a) equipment used to clean berries b) how to clean seed
Dry Seed head Cleaning Equipment Plastic container Plastic container- used to hold clean seed Screens- are made of nylon and metal Screens have different size holes screens
Step one in Cleaning Dry seed heads Place screen on plastic container Make sure holes in screen large enough for seed to go through
Step two in Cleaning Dry Seed Heads Place dry seed heads on screen
Step 2a Cleaning Dry Seed Heads glove If screen is made of metal use glove Glove make sure that you no cut your hand
Step 3 Cleaning Dry Seed Heads Move hand back and forth over screen
Step 4 in Cleaning Dry Seed Heads Seeds go through screen holes and are in bottom of plastic container Bad things do not go through holes in screen We now have seeds that are clean
Berries cleaning Equipment Food processor A food processor or blender is used to clean berries
Step one in Cleaning Berries Put berries in food processor
Step Two in Cleaning Berries Add water to berries Also a small amount of liquid dish washing soap
Step three in Cleaning Berries Use pulse setting on food processor Pulse turns food processor on and off very fast Fruit will leave seed Clean seed at bottom of food processor
9) Care of seeds during germination Everyday look to see that media is wet Everyday look to see that there is no pests Transplant after first true leaves produced
Seed leaves hoot The first thing you see on shoot is seed leaves True leaves are the second thing you see on shoot Seed leaves
Transplant after first leaves come First leaves The seed leaves are first thing you see on new shoot The first set of leaves is the second thing you see on shoot Transplant after you see first leaves Seed leaves
10) Common Pest and Diseases of Aphid Whitefly Spider Mites Fungus Gnats Slugs and Snails Damping Off Seedlings
Common Pest and Diseases of Seedlings Green Peach Aphid Aphids are many colors Aphids are found near top of plant
Aphid Injury of plants leaf curled Brown area Black spots Honey dew
Common Pest and Diseases of Seedlings Adult whitefly Whitefly is found on the underside of leaf Both immature and adult hurt plant Immature whitefly
Whitefly Damage Whitefly damage looks similar to aphid damage Whitefly damage
Common Pest and Diseases of Seedlings Spider mite like areas where there is little water in the air When there are many Spider Mites they make webs
Spider mite damage Spider mites can make underside of leaf have small yellow or brown spots Spider mite damage
Common Pest and Diseases of Seedlings Adult fungus gnat Fungus gnat only immature fungus gnat hurt plants Immature fungus gnat eats roots of seedling Immature fungus gnat
Common Pest and Diseases of Seedlings Slugs usually hurt plants at night
Common Pest and Diseases of Seedlings Snail hurts plants mostly at night Snail like environment similar to fern environment
Common Pest and Diseases of Seedlings Snail and Slugs eat hole in leaves Sometimes slugs and snails eat most of plant Slug and Snail Damage
Common Pest and Diseases of Seedlings Damping Off Seedling hurt by this mushroom( fungus) disease Damage is seedling not come up from ground Damping off damage
Pest of Seedlings Damping off Damping off also can cause seedling to die after seedling come up through media Damping off damage