Abstract
This study was initiated to investigate seed germinating vigor, germination speed, and
establishment characteristics of Festuca species under natural conditions (5-25°C).
Germination rate was 62.0% in CRF ‘Audubon’ to 97.0% in TF ‘Olympic Gold’. It was
greater with TF over fine-type fescues, being TF>SF>CF, HF>CRF. The germination
speed, measured as days to seed germination of 50% through 80%, was fastest with TF,
medium to high with CF, medium with HF and SF, and slowest with CRF. However, it was
approximately 4 days slower under natural conditions, as compared with that under alternative
conditions (15-25°C). Germination peak time was much faster with TF. It ranged from 0.73
to 1.84 days with TF, being 1.45 days in average. But it varied with 2.16 to 11.75 days
among fine-type species. The peak time was longer in order of SF
Figures & Tables
Seed germinating vigor in 9 cultivars of Festuca spp. (TF: tall fescue, CF: Chewings fescue, CRF: creeping red fescue, HF: hard fescue, SF: sheep fescue) grown under natural conditions at the room temperature of 5 to 25°C. Mean separation was made by Duncan’s multiple range test at P=0.05.
