##  [Effects of Population, Environment and their Interaction on Saskatoon Berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) Seed Germination](/resource/effects-population-environment-and-their-interaction-saskatoon-berry-amelanchier-alnifolia) 

Organization

[InnoTech Alberta (ITA)](/organization/innotech-alberta-ita)

 

 

Resource Type

[Peer reviewed article](/taxonomy/term/37)

 

 

Author(s)

Surya Acharya

Chin Chu

 

 

Original 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.