Seed and Media Testing 2003

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Seed and Media Testing 2003

• Bob Pearce and Jack Zeleznik
• University of Kentucky

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Media test

• Media used directly from bag (no water added)
• 288 cell trays (speedling)
• Two treatments with glazed trays (beltwide)
• Filled and seeded with Berry Seeder
• Seeded with Rickard TN90 (R90ABCEI)
• Germination count 2 weeks after seed

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Media influence on germination
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Media influence on spiral root
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Seed test

• Seeds obtained from 4 companies
• Clays
• Newton
• Rickard
• Workman
• Two media
• Speedling peat-lite
• Scotts with coir

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TN 90 -- Germination
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TN 90 Spiral Root
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TN 90 Useable plants
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14 x L8 -- Germination
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14 x L8 Spiral Root
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Rickard 14 x L8
Scotts with coir
Speedling
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Rickard 14 x L8 ProfiCote
Scotts with coir
Speedling
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14 x L8 Useable plants
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Test at S W Greenhouse
Tommy Williams and Bruce Wash

• 130 treatments (390 trays)
• 13 seed lots
• 5 media
• Overhead misting 4 times per day
• New 242 cell burley molding trays
• Filled using Bouldin and Lawson Maxi-Flat filler
• Seeded May 2nd, counted May 21

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Germination
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Spiral root
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14 x L8 -- Germination
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14 x L8 Spiral root
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Germination
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Spiral root
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Summary

• Media influence on spiral root is unpredictable
  from year to year.
• Misting did not always reduce spiral root.
• 14 x L8 had greater propensity to spiral root.
• Source/pellet influenced spiral root.
• The ProfiCote pellet performed better than
  Rickard old pellets.