Gibberellin Effects on Rabbiteye Blueberry Seed Germination1
in HortScienceAbstract
A 24 or 48 hour soak in gibberellins (GA) did not influence the total germination of open-pollinated rabbiteye blueberry seeds (Vaccinium ashei Reade, cv. Tifblue). GA4+7 at 100-500 ppm stimulated early germination of seeds from the 2nd to 4th week after sowing, with the maximum effect occurring after 3 weeks. The 48-hour, GA4+7, 100 ppm treatment stimulated germination from the 2nd to 5th week after sowing. Stimulation of earlier germination by GA4+7 hastened seedling transplanting by 2 to 4 weeks. Germination of mature seeds (large, filled) was significantly higher than immature (medium-size, filled) or imperfectly (partially-filled) developed seeds. GA4+7 did not increase germination of immature or imperfectly developed seeds.
Contributor Notes
Received for publication January 15, 1976. Paper No. 4886 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, N.C. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station of products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.
Assistant Professor, Professor, and Associate Professor, respectively. The authors wish to thank Abbott Laboratories for their donation of Pro-Gibb 47.
