CHILLING REQUIREMENT OF COMMERCIAL ECHINACEA SEED

This study aimed to determine the effect of the moist chilling of seed on germination of Echinacea angustifolia DC, and Echinacea purpurea ( L.) Moench, and the effect of seed coat trimming on the germination of E. angustifolia. Seed off. angustifolia stratified for more than 2 we eks achieved maximum germination rates of 65-80%. Maximum germination rates of E. purpurea (84%) were unaffected by periods of stratificatio n. The time to maximum germination declined as the length of the strat ification period increased. Trimming the seed coat of E. angustifolia had no significant effect on the germination rate of unstratified seed , but halved the germination rate of seed stratified for more than 2 w eeks.