The effects of seed treatments on germination and establishment of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.)

Common Kentucky bluegrass seeds were subjected to four hydration treatments: hydropriming, accelerated germination, matric priming and osmotic priming. Seeds from each hydration treatment were subjected to the 15°C or 25°C germination assay either without drying or with drying for 1 week at 25°C. Hydropriming failed to improve germination. Accelerated germination greatly increased germination rate provided the seeds were not dried before sowing. Primed seeds germinated faster than non-treated seeds at either germination temperature, although germination percentage was not increased. Drying the primed seeds slowed germination and this was more pronounced in matrically than in osmotically primed seeds germinated at 15°C. From the subsequent greenhouse seedling emergence test, we conclude that matric priming, using water as the hydrating agent and without postpriming drying was the most satisfactory hydration treatment for KB. Compared to responses of non-treated seeds, this treatment resulted in 49% less time to 50% emergence, 13% greater emergence and 84% higher shoot dry weight.