- Home
- Agricultural Economics
- Animal and Food Sciences
- Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
- Community and Leadership Development
- Entomology
- Extension and Education
- Extension Administration
- Forestry
- Horticulture
- Human Environmental Sciences
- Landscape Architecture
- Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center
- Plant Pathology
- Plant and Soil Sciences
- Veterinary Science
Search research reports:
Identifying the Biophysical, Biochemical, Environmental, and Genetic Factors Associated With Seed Development, Dormancy, Germination, and Establishment of Eastern Gamagrass
R.L. Geneve
Department of Horticulture
Non-Technical Summary
Eastern gamagrass is a native, perennial grass that can be used for forage, biofuel and conservation plantings. The seed is encased in a cupule and requires stratification for dormancy release and germination. However, following stratification, laboratory seed germination rarely exceeds 60% and typically field emergence is less than 20%.
Preliminary evidence has shown that seed quality has a major impact on dormancy and germination and suggests that seed quality is strongly influenced by seed production practices. The combination of dormancy, low germination and seed quality limits the widespread adoption of gamagrass for forage, biomass and conservation use.