Effects of Population, Environment and their Interaction on Saskatoon Berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) Seed Germination

Organization
Resource Type
Authors
Surya Acharya
Chin Chu
Resource Date:
1989
Page Length
8

To determine the effects of population, environment and their interaction on the variability of seed germination, seeds of 27 random native Alberta populations of Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnfolia Nutt.) were collected over 3 yr. Each year the seeds were stratified at 3"C for 84 d and then germinated at 25.0'C light(16h)/dark. Among the populations, mean seed germination after 4 wk ranged between 7 and 67 % . Ecoregion and moisture condition at the site of origin did not significantly influence germinability. Of the total variance, 56% was contributed by population while the year and the population-year interaction contributed 0.3% and l7 .5%, respectively. Over years the rank order of the populations was maintained. Three populations of diverse origin, grown in a comrnon nursery, produced seeds with significantly different germination. Therefore:, germination in A. alnifolia can largely be considered a genetically controlled character which is influenced to a limited extent bv vearlv environmental fluctuation.