seed culture

From: BASSPROF at aol.com on 1997.12.04 at 19:05:35(1704) Dear All, I've just been given fruit of Anchomanes difformis and Arisaema triphyllum. Never having grown either from seed I'm hoping someone out there can help. Anchomanes: +More --My plants are now dormant. Should I wait until spring to plant? --Any suggestions for seed mix? Arisaema: --Same questions as above, but should I refrigerate the cleaned seed? If so, for how long. I am in Central Florida. This sp. will grow here but is native to the northern part of the state which is colder. Many thanks in advance for any advice provided!! Lynn Hannon--Zone 9

From: Don Martinson <dmartin at post.its.mcw.edu> on 1997.12.04 at 20:54:04(1706) >Dear All, >I've just been given fruit of Anchomanes difformis and Arisaema triphyllum. > Never having grown either from seed I'm hoping someone out there can help. >Anchomanes: +More >--My plants are now dormant. Should I wait until spring to plant? >--Any suggestions for seed mix? According to Rob McClure (my seed source), these seeds need warmth and humidity to germinate. Living in Wisconsin and not wanting to wait until next August (!), I've got them in loose compost in a glass jar in one of the 37C incubation chambers in my work lab. I don't know how long the seeds are viable. There was also a note from Wilbert that once germinated, these plants will put up multiple shoots from the developing tuber until finally entering a first dormancy. Evidently the roots are rather fleshy and do not like to be dried out during dormancy (Hope I got this right, Wilbert). >Arisaema: >--Same questions as above, but should I refrigerate the cleaned seed? If so, >for how long. I am in Central Florida. This sp. will grow here but is >native to the northern part of the state which is colder. I harvest my A.triphyllum seeds in October and keep them in coarse peat in a baggy in the 'frig until spring. I don't know if there is any minimum chilling period. Don Martinson Medical College of Wisconsin dmartin@post.its.mcw.edu

From: BASS PROF <BASSPROF at aol.com> on 1997.12.04 at 23:16:12(1708) Dear Don, Thankyou so much. You've answered all my questions!! Best regards, Lynn Hannon

From: grsjr at juno.com (George R Stilwell, Jr.) on 1997.12.05 at 13:29:50(1710) Lynn, Nearly all Arisaema seed do not require a cold period to germinate. A. triphyllum should +More germinate easily. I use the Deno method for seed germination, so the media is a scrap of wet paper towel. Once the radical emerges, carefully transfer the seedlings to any sterile mixture and keep them moist. You will probably have some problem growing the plants to best advantage because they do like a cool period when they go dormant. It doesn't have to be really cold although we really don't know exactly how cold it has to be. My guess is in the 50F range or lower. In the north, we lifted tubers like Glads, etc. and stored them nearly dry for the winter. The same will work in the South for Arisaema storing them in the refrigerator. But, what we really need is a good study with a range of storage temperatures and times including control subjects,etc. Ray

From: BASS PROF <BASSPROF at aol.com> on 1997.12.05 at 19:16:22(1711) Ray, Thankyou so much for the input. A. triphyllum will grow and bloom easily here, but I've not seen fruit. However, I thought seed might require chilling and am glad to learn that it doesn't. We're growing them in our camellia beds. Normally, the temp will go down to freezing at least once a year, but often there will be warmer or far colder years--17deg F is the coldest I've seen. Perhaps this will give you a feeling for our 'range'. The plants are left in the ground all year. They would probably grow 'prettier' with the refrigerator treatment and I haven't studied them to determine if they perform better after cold winters. Must try a study---when someone provides more hours in the day!! Very best, Lynn

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