| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Lopez, Jennifer [1], Oster, Cyrus [1], Tra, Kimberly [1], Perumal, John [1]. The Effects of Gibberellic Acid, Seed Length, and Temperature on the Germination of Muhlenbergia rigens. MUHLENBERGIA rigens commonly known as deer grass is a perennial grass belonging to the family Poaceae. M. rigens produces tiny seeds that are dispersed by wind and has a very low germination rate. Minimal research has been done on M. rigens. It is native to Arizona, Southern California, New Mexico and Northern Mexico. It generally blooms between June and September. Gibberellic Acid (GA) is a naturally occurring plant hormone and can be used to enhance seed germination. We studied the effects of GA on the germination process of M. rigens. Seeds were randomly chosen and placed in Petri dishes. 10 ml of GA, ranging from 0.010M to 1.75M, were placed in each of the dishes. Increased concentrations of GA resulted in a higher germination rate than the controls. There has been extensive research done on seed length/mass and their relation to germination rates in various other species. Research has shown that there is a positive relationship between seed length/mass and rate of germination. Seed length of Muhlenbergia rigens is now included in this study to support the hypothesis that with increased length and mass, seeds will also have increased germination rates. Previous experiments with M. rigens have shown this correlation. M. rigens is known to tolerate the wide range of temperatures associated with its native habitat. This raises questions about the range of temperatures required for seed germination. Seeds collected in 2006 from the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve located in Southern California are placed in temperatures ranging from 5 to 45 degrees Celsius. Germination rates are monitored to show the correlation between temperature and rate of germination. This will reflect the ability of M. rigens to survive in various environments. Our research will further the understanding of M. rigens and aid in the conservation of this perennial bunchgrass.
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1 - La Sierra University, Biology, River walk Parkway, Riverside, California, 92515, USA
Keywords:
Muhlenbergia rigens
Gibberellic Acid
temperature
seed length.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 15-6
Location: 268/Holt
Date: Monday, July 31st, 2006
Time: 11:30 AM
Abstract ID:762 |
