EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL STIMULATORS ON GERMINATION OF WINTERFAT (CERATOIDES LANATA (PURSH) HOWELL,J.T.)

Winterfat (Ceratoides lanata (Pursh) J.T. Howell, syn. Eurotia lanata (Pursh) Meg., syn. Krascheninnikovia lanata Gueldenstaedt) seeds posse ss an after-ripening requirement to break dormancy. Germination respon ses of winterfat seeds to ethanol, gibberellic acid (GA(3)), citric ac id and sodium nitrate (NaNO3) were tested in the laboratory to determi ne their ability to break dormancy. Ethanol, GA(3) and citric acid pro moted, while NaNO, inhibited germination. Ethanol promoted fast and sy nchronous germination. Promotion of germination by GA(3) or citric aci d was weak during the test period. Citric acid damaged the radicles of seedlings. Soaking winterfat seeds in 600 to 1,000 mM ethanol for 4 t o 8 hours is recommended, as an alternative to cold-moist treatment, t o promote germination for seed testing and research purposes. Seeds th at were treated with the chemicals, dried and then planted in soil did not germinate better than untreated seeds.