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Growth Chamber Modification to Emulate a Seed Germination Chamber

USDA-ARS, South Central Family Farm Research Center, Rt. 2, Boone Box 144-A, Booneville, AR 72927-9214.

^* Corresponding author.

In the absence of specialized research equipment, existing equipment often must be modified to meet research needs and objectives. Specialized germination chambers which control temperature, light, and humidity may not always be available to conduct detailed germination experiments. The objectives of this research were to modify a growth chamber to emulate a seed germination chamber and validate the system by reporting the variation in percentage seed germination and seedling root and shoot lengths. Modifications to the growth chamber consisted of mounting trays in space and adding cool humidified air. Within the modified growth chamber variation in seed germination was small for row or column placement on a tray and large between trays. Among the 11 trays, the optimum tray placement for seed germination was on Trays 4,5,6,7, and 8 for all species studied. Variation in seedling root and shoot lengths was attributed to row and column placement on a tray and tray levels, and was associated in part with light and temperature gradients in the modified growth chamber.

Received for publication October 7, 1991.