Experimentation on the cultivation of Achyrocline flaccida (Weinm.) DC andAchyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC in Uruguay

Seed conservation studies were conducted at the Germplasm Bank of the Facul ty of Agronomy. The most efficient method was to conserve the seed in Alumi nium envelopes after desiccation under room conditions. Seed germination af ter seeding showed values from 50 to 91% for A. satureioides, depending on the site of origin of the seed. Seed from A. flaccida showed 65% germinatio n after six months from seeding, with the seed kept at room conditions in a paper envelope. Propagation of both species was made by sowing and cutting s in autumn and spring at the Experimental Station INIA Las Brujas, Canelon es, Uruguay. Propagation by cuttings in spring was not effective due to flo wering in plants with little development that did not persist towards the s econd year. Autumn cuttings showed poor rooting. The most effective method was sowing in autumn. Sowing in a field seedbed under plastic cover gave ac ceptable results. Sowing was done on May 8, 1992, and in the field two dist ances between plants in the line were compared (30 and 45 cm). For A. satur eioides, flower yields in the first harvest were 1218 and 920 kg/ha for the two plantation distances (30 and 45 cm respectively). For A. flaccida thes e yields were 320 and 134 kg/ha. In the second year (harvested on March 30, 1994) these values were 540 and 897 kg/ha for A. satureioides and 5567 and 330 kg/ha for A. flaccida.