Stratification of beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) seed improves germination

Corylus cornuta is a native shrub to Alberta, Canada, which can be propagated by seed and used to revegetate disturbed sites. Seeds were collected and separated into green-sheathed seeds, which were subjected to cold moist stratification of 0 (no stratification), 8, 16 and 23 weeks, and brown-sheathed seeds, which were subjected to cold moist stratification of 0, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 23 weeks. Green-sheathed seeds had similar germination percentages, mean germination times and synchrony as the brown-sheathed seeds. Stratifying for minimum 16 weeks for both seed groups improved the germination metrics.

Propagation of Four Underused Native Species from Softwood Cuttings

Interest in native plants for landscaping is increasing and nursery growers must expand their product offerings by adding new native species. Softwood stem cutting propagation of four underused northeastern U.S. native species [Ceanothus americanus (L.), Corylus cornuta (Marsh.), Lonicera canadensis (Bartr.), Viburnum acerifolium (L.)] was studied. V. acerifolium cuttings containing two nodes taken mid-June to mid-August rooted at nearly 100% with at least 15 roots per cutting. Exogenous auxin application did not enhance rooting of two-node V. acerifolium cuttings. Single-node V. acerifolium cutting success and quality of rooting increased with increasing concentration of auxin applied and reached a maximum of 80% rooting, whereas untreated cuttings only rooted at 53%. C. cornuta cuttings taken mid-June to mid-August rooted at greater than 85%. Hormone concentration did not affect rooting percentage for C. cornuta; however, cuttings treated with 3000 and 8000 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) had more and longer roots than untreated cuttings. June was the optimal time to collect cuttings of C. americanus (57% rooting) and L. canadensis (49% rooting), and rooting hormone did not significantly impact propagation success. C. cornuta and V. acerifolium could be propagated at a level necessary for consideration as a new commercial crop by general wholesale nurseries looking to add select native shrubs to their product lines. All four species evaluated could be viable commercial crops for nurseries that specialize in native plants.