EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE TREATMENT AND OF A NATIVE INHIBITOR ON SEED DORMANCY AND OF COTYLEDON REMOVAL ON EPICOTYL GROWTH IN VIBURNUM TRILOBUM MARSH

Abstract

Dormancy was encountered in both seeds and seedlings of Viburnum trilobum Marsh. When seeds were exposed to germinative conditions at 20 °C., dormancy was expressed by slow growth of the radicle and hypocotyl in some seeds, and by lack of germination in others. This type of dormancy was found to be associated with the presence of a water-soluble inhibitor, as well as with a need for an appropriate temperature treatment. Epicotyl dormancy, or failure of shoot growth following seedling emergence, was overcome by removal of the cotyledons.