EFFECT OF SEED TREATMENT ON GERMINATION AND EMERGENCE OF 3 WARM-SEASON GRASSES

Seed dormancy can hinder stand establishment and delay progress of gen etic and plant improvement studies, Our objective was to evaluate the effect of 2 chemical seed treatments on germination and on emergence a nd survival of 3 warm-season grasses, Freshly harvested seed of kleing rass (Panicum coloratum L.) weeping lovegrass [Eragrostis curvula (Sch rad,) Nees] and wilman lovegrass (Eragrostis superba Peyr,) were treat ed with concentrated H2SO4 or a 2-chloroethanol sodium hypochlorite (C HL) solution and then germinated on blotters or planted in a commercia l peat-vermiculite mix, The 3 grasses responded differently to acid an d CHL treatment, Acid treatment increased germination of all 3 species but did not increase the emergence and/or 2 week establishment of wee ping or wilman lovegrass, The difference between germination and emerg ence appeared related to chemical injury from the acid treatment that adversly impacted seedling growth and development, Weeping lovegrass r esponded to CHL treatment with increased germination and emergence, Wi lman lovegrass did not respond well to either chemical.