Germination and dormancy in a wild collected genotype of Trollius europaeus

This study investigated the efficacy of a range of pre-sowing treatments in over coming dormancy in wild collected and cultivated genotypes of Trolliu s europaeus L., and the cultivated hybrid T: 'Golden Queen'. The main aim o f the study was to identify effective, yet practical treatments for pre-tre ating T. europaeus seed prior to sowing with other native forbs and grasses in wet meadow reconstruction projects. T. 'Golden Queen' was included in i nitial experiments as a contrast genotype whose dormancy and germination is better understood than that of T. europaeus. Seed of wild collected T.: eu ropaeus proved to be the most dormant genotype, with T.: 'Golden Queen' the least dormant. The only genotype to germinate following sowing of untreate d seed at 20 degreesC was T. 'Golden Queen'. Following initial inter-genoty pe comparisons, a range of dormancy breaking treatments including wet pre-c hilling, pre-washing, chilling, freezing warm storage and GA pre-soaks were applied to wild collected T. europaeus seed. The most effective treatment for breaking dormancy was to pre-wash the seed in running tap water for 7 d ays then pre-soak for 24 hours in GA(4+7) or GA(3) at 10(-4)M and 10(-1)M r espectively. With these latter treatments germination commences 3-6 days af ter sowing at 20 degreesC. By day 12, 75-85% of sown seed had germinated. G iven its low cost, and ease of undertaking, prewashing followed by soaking in GA(3) at between 10(-2)M and 10(-1)M is proposed as an effective dormanc y breaking treatment for T: europaeus seed prior to field sowing in spring or early summer.