THE EFFECT OF SEED STRATIFICATION ON GERMINATION OF 14 CUPRESSUS SPECIES

For 14 Cupressus species growing outside their natural range (C. arizo nica, C. cashmeriana , C. duclouxiana, C. dupreziana, C. funebris, C. glabra, C. goveniana, C. guadalupensis, C. lusitanica, C. macnabiana, C. macrocarpa, C. numidica, C. pygmaea and C. torulosa) germination wa s compared between thirty day chilled and unchilled seed. Chilling and species effects were highly significant for all germination parameter s considered. Chilling x species interaction was observed for germinat ion value (GV) and mean germination time (MGT). The germination capaci ty of filled seed (GCF) after one month was increased by chilling pret reatment from 43% to 73%. Chilling increased germination in all specie s (except for C. guadalupensis), but it significatively enhanced germi nation capacity and speed in: C. cashmeriana, C. duclouxiana, C. glabr a and C. macrocarpa. Chilling also increased uniformity in C. glabra, C. cashmeriana and C. funebris, while a high intraspecific variability remained in C. arizonica, C. guadalupensis, C. lusitanica, C. numidic a and C. torulosa for both treatments. After chilling germination capa city remained low for C. macnabiana, C. dupreziana, C. guadalupensis, C. numidica and C. torulosa, but C. macnabiana and C. dupreziana had f ailed to germinate without chilling.