Effects of Temperature on Germination in Three Subspecies of Big Sagebrush

The relationship of germination to temperature was tested in seeds (achenes) from 10 individual plants from each of three subspecies of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) collected above 5,000 ft on sagebrush-grass range in Idaho. No optimum temperature for germination within subspecies was found. Subspecies vaseyana gave the lowest mean percent germination (10%) at temperatures in the range 2 degrees-30 degrees C, compared to 28% for subspecies wyomingensis and 38% for subspecies tridentata. Stratification improved germination of seeds in all collections of vaseyana and in some collections of the other two subspecies.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202