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Seeds of Liriope muscari Require Warm Stratification for Germination
John Jones and Sarah White
Introduction:
The following study was conducted to
determine optimal temperature requirements and
stratification period required to break dormancy
in Liriope muscari.
Materials and Methods
Seeds of L. muscari were collected and placed
in a blender for de-pulping, then cleaned with a
10% bleach solution. Six petri dishes were
prepared with filter paper and then wetted with
8 ml of distilled water. Fifteen seeds were then
placed in the dishes and sealed with Para film.
Two dishes were placed in the refrigerator and
held at 5 degrees Celsius. Two more were
placed in the greenhouse and and held at 10
degrees Celsius. The final two were placed in an
incubator and held at 30 degrees Celsius with no
light. The seeds were stratified at each
temperature for four weeks, and then allowed to
germinate for two weeks. The number of seeds
germinated were counted and recorded.
Discussion
Figure 1. Liriope seeds at zero days (left) and
two weeks warm stratification (right). Note the
increase in embryo growth during warm
stratification.
Results
Seeds stratified at 5 and 10 degrees Celsius
did not germinate. Seeds stratified at 30 degrees
exhibit 50 % germination (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Germination percentage at varying
temperatures.
60
Germination %
Liriope muscari, commonly called big blue
lily turf, is one of the most popular ground
covers in the southeastern United States. It is an
easy plant to grow, with its grass-like evergreen
foliage, sun and shade tolerance,and insect and
disease resistance. Liriope has attractive lilacpurple flowers which produce single seeded
berries on a spike in the fall. The seeds of Liriope
are covered by a blue-black t esta, also called
the pulp. Beneath the pulp is a smooth seed with
its embryo, surrounded by a hard endosperm.
Results from previous studies have indicated the
pulp contains phenolic compounds which inhibit
germination (Hruska et al., 1982). Because of
the numerous seeds Liriope produces, seed
propagation would appear to be the most logical
method. However, the only method used in
commercial propagation is division (Hartmann et
al., 1997). This is time consuming and labor
intensive, but done because the seed exhibits
some type of dormancy.
From our results we concluded Liriope
is difficult to germinate from seed.
However, in a similar study 90%
germination was achieved; due to a longer
period (6 weeks) of warm stratification
(Hruska et al., 1982). Another study found
optimal stratification period to be 8 weeks,
at 25 degrees Celsius (Kondo and
Shimomura,
2000).
At
time
of
dissemination, the embryo isn’t fully
developed. Enlargement occurs after
imbibition and before germination (Figure
1). This extended period of warm
stratification is necessary to break the
endogenous
morphological
dormancy
Liriope exhibits.
Literature Cited
50
40
Hartmann, H.T., D.E. Kester, F.T. Davies, Jr.,
and R.L. Genever. 1997. Plant Propagation:
Principles and Practices. 6th ed. Prentice Hall.
NJ.
30
20
10
0
5 degrees
10 degrees
30 degrees
Stratification temperature
Hruska, A.F, M.A. Dirr and F. A. Pokorny.
1982. Investigation of anthocyanic pigments and
substances inhibitory to seed germination in the
fruit pulp of Liriope muscari. Journal of
American Society of Horticulture Science
107(3):468-473.
Hruska, A.F, M.A. Dirr and F. A. Pokorny.
1982. The Propagation of Liriope muscari
‘variegata’ and Ophiopogen japonicus from
seeds. HortScience 17(1):51.
Figure 3. Radical emergence after four weeks
of warm stratification, and one week of
germination.
Shimomura, T. and Kondo T. 2000. Seed
germination and polyembryony of some
Lilaceae ground covers native to Japan. Acta
Horticultur. 517:73-80.