2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Lespedeza plants can be resource plants that are used for livestock feed and embankment greening. These seeds are known as fire-activated species that germinate after the fire in the mountains. In previous studies, germination occurred when heat was applied to seeds, but germination rate was low and treatment was not easy. Therefore, this study was carried out in order to increase the germination rate of L. tomentosa by chemical scarification with sulfuric acid. Seeds were soaked in 98% sulfuric acid for 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 192, and 384 min and washed in distilled water for 24 h. Very few seeds were germinated in control (H₂SO₄ for 0 min). More than 90% of seeds were germinated in H₂SO₄ for 24, 48, and 92 min. However, some damage was observed in roots and cotyledons of seedling dipped in H₂SO₄ for a long time. To search the optimal soaking time in H2SO4 without defects, seeds scarified in H₂SO₄ for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 300 min were sown the commercial soil substrate. Seeds treated with H₂SO₄ for 90 min and 150 min emerged by about 92% and 84%, respectively. Therefore, the optimal time of sulfuric acid for germination of L. tomentosa is estimated to be 1 to 2 h. The germination was completed within one month after germination began immediately after the seed treatment so that the seed of L. tomentosa had physical dormancy without physiological dormancy.