Some Factors Affecting the Germination of Seed of the Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea)
Alcorn SM and Kurtz EB. 1959. Some Factors Affecting the Germination of Seed of the Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea). American Journal of Botany. 46(7):526-529
Germination of saguaro cactus seeds is stimulated by red light (approx. 6550 A) or daylight and far-red light (approx. 7350 A) counteracts this effect. About 0.1% germinate in continuous darkness. A single exposure to red light was most effective when the seeds were imbibed 24 hr., but maximum germination resulted from multiple exposures to red light during a 72-hr. imbibition period. The optimum temperature for germination was 25°C.; no germination occurred at 15°C. and only slight germination at 35°C. Imbibition of light-treated seeds in 0.05 to 0.2% KNO3 increased germination. Germination of seeds in either light or dark was increased by imbibing the seeds in 500 to 1000 p.p.m. gibberellic acid.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Alcorn, Stanley; Kurtz, Edwin
- Units
- ORPI , SAGU
- Keywords
- Botany, Cactaceae, Columnar Cacti (Cactaceae), Germination, gibberellic acid, red light, Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), Seeds, Succulent Plants