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Seed Treatment of Mojave Desert Shrubs¹

Information is needed for revegetation of barren scars left from destruction of native shrubs by recreational vehicles and right-of-way clearance. Numerous seed treatments were tested for improvement of field establishment of Mojave Desert shrubs and reduction of establishment costs.

Scarification, 4-hour 60 C and 80 C dry heat, stratification, activated carbon, 3-hour and 15-hour soaking, 100 ppm and 1,000 ppm ethylene, hot water (5 rain), 0.5 and 6% sodium hypochlorite, 3% thiourea, and 6% hydrogen peroxide were used on the following species considered promising for revegetation: 1) Larrea divaricata Cav., 2) Atriplex polyycarpa (Torr.) Wats., 3) Atriplex cane scens (Pursh.) Hurt., 4) Hymenoclea salsola T. & C., 5) Ephedra nevadensis Wats., 6) Ambrosia dumosa (Gray) Payne Franseria dumosa), and 7) Lepidospartum squamatum Gray.

Activated carbon was the most effective treatment in improving fruit germination on 5 of 6 species tested (spp. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6). Stratification was effective on improving the germination of 3 of 6 species (spp. 2, 3, 6). Thiourea (3%) was effective in improving the germination of both the carpels and seeds of Larrea divayicata, The 15-hour soaking, 100 ppm ethylene, 4-hour 60 C, and scarification treatments improved the germination of only one species each. Treatments having no effect on germination were 3-hour soaking, 6% hydrogen peroxide, and 1,000 ppm ethylene. The 4-hour 80 C dry heat depressed the germination of 5 of the 7 species and 6% sodium hypochlorite depressed the germination on all species tested. Hot water (5 min) killed the embryos on all species tested.

Key Words: Larrea divaricata • Atriplex polycarpa • Atriplex canescens • Hymenoclea salsola • Ephedra nevadensis • Ambrosia dumosa (syn. Franseria dumosa) • Lepidospartum squamatum • Activated carbon • Thiourea • Hydrogen peroxide • Sodium hypochlorie • Ethylene

² Formerly graduate student (presently Farm Advisor, Cooperative Agric. Ext., Univ. of Calif., San Diego, CA 92123), specialist and professor, respectively.

Received for publication November 4, 1974.