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Matric Priming Increases Germination Rate of Great Basin Native Perennial Grasses

USDA-ARS-NWRC, 800 Park Blvd., Plaza IV., Suite 105, Boise, ID 83712.

^* Corresponding author.

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) is an undesirable nonnative annual that germinates at relatively low temperatures in the spring and fall and can establish a root system more quickly than Great Basin native perennial grasses. The purpose of this study was to determine whether seed priming could be used to enhance low-temperature germination rate of native perennial grasses so that they can better compete with cheatgrass. A matric-priming technique was used to increase low-temperature germination rate of seven native perennial grasses: blue-bunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Löve], thickspike wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Smith) Gould; syn. Agropyron dasystachyum (Hook.) Scribn.], basin wildrye [Leymus cinereus (Scribn. and Merr.) A. Löve], sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L.), canby bluegrass (Poa canbyi Scribn.), sandberg bluegrass (Poa sandbergii Vasey), and bottlebrush squirreltail [Sitanion hystrix (Nutt.) J.G. Smith]. Seeds primed at both 10 and 25°C were evaluated for germination response at both 10 and 25°C. Days to 50% germination (D₅₀) was 4 d for cheatgrass germinated at 10°C. Native grass seeds in control treatments germinated between about 4 and 11 d later than cheatgrass at 10°C. Priming reduced D₅₀ by between 4 and 8 d for all native species when germinated at 10°C. Germination rate at 10°C was generally higher when the seeds were primed at 25°C, except for basin wildrye. Priming increased cold temperature germination rate of bluebunch wheatgrass, thickspike wheatgrass, and sheep fescue to a level comparable to cheatgrass.

Received for publication May 14, 1993.

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