Nursery Production of Uniola Paniculata
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niola paniculata (south- ies in the Southeast commonly use Nursery ern seaoats) is the domi- pine bark–sand media, which is also Production of U nant foredune building grass nutrient-deficient (Wright and from southeastern Virginia along the Niemiera, 1987). Nurseries attempt Uniola Atlantic and Gulf coasts to eastern to maintain adequate nutrition by us- Mexico (Woodhouse and Hanes, ing quick-release granular fertilizer, paniculata 1966). This perennial grass has been controlled-release fertilizer or fertil- used extensively to build artificial dunes izer injected into irrigation water, alone (southern and stabilize existing dunes. With the or in combinations. Macronutrient fer- increased shoreline damage by tropical tilizers commonly are applied to stimu- seaoats) storms on the eastern seaboard in the late plant growth and increase vegeta- last few years, the need for beach res- tive cover in dune plantings l toration-also has increased. Vegetative (Woodhouse and Hanes, 1966) Gary R. Bachman and propagation for dune restoration in Production of seeded Uniola Ted Whitwell2 beach sand is expensive, and young paniculata in commercial nurseries plants are subjected to extreme envi- would increase availability of plants for ronmental factors which can result in dune restoration. The objectives of poor plant establishment and growth this research were to 1 ) enhance ger- Additional index words. container (Wagner, 1964). Direct seeding in the mination of freshly harvested seed, 2) production, pine bark media, nutri- dunes is ineffective because of seed investigate the effect of planting depth tion dormancy–viability and movement of within containers to simulate the dune Summary. Demand for commercially sand which affects planting depth. environment, where the base of the grown Uniola paniculata L. (southern Uniola paniculata is not a prolific plant is buried, and 3) determine an seaoats) is increasing for use in seed produce like many grasss. Typi- optimum nutrition program for Uniola restoring beaches damaged by tropical cally panicles have many spikelets bear- panicuiata grown in pine bark-sand storms. Fresh seeds harvested from the ing 10 to 12 florets (Westra and media for nursery production. Jekyll Island, Ga area (with permission Loomis, 1966). These are usually in- of the Jekyll Island Authority), were fertile at the terminal and distal ends, Materials and methods planted in 50 peat: 50 perlite and leaving 6 to 8 fertile florets, which Seed germination. Mature treated with 100 or 500 ppm GA for 4 produce fewer than 2 seeds per spike- Uniola paniculata panicles were har- 24 h. Germination was higher for 100 let (Wagner, 1964). Sexual reproduc- vested from the Jekyll Island, Ga., area compared to 500 ppm GA4. Liners grown from seed and planted with the tion depends on wind dissemination 15 Sept. 1993 in cooperation with the crowns even with the surface of the of pollen. Successful pollination is af- Jekyll Island Authority. The spikelets pine bark-sand media, compared to fected by the florets opening and clos- were rubbed over a screen to remove deep planting to simulate burial ing only once within a 24-h period the chafe, and the seeds were col- conditions of beach planting, had the (Colosi, 1979). High humidity and lected. Harvested seeds were stored highest shoot and root weights after summer rain increase the incidence of dry at 4C for 30 days. Before treat- 100 days. Uniola paniculata liners fungal invasion. Aborted ovules in the ments all seed were soaked for 30 min with the crowns buried had reduced florets have been observed to exhibit in a 30% bleach solution as a surface weights due to higher moisture high infestations of Alterneria sp. and sterilant. Seed treatments included 24- conditions in the bottom of the containers. Uniola paniculata grown Helminthosporium sp. fungi which h soak in 100 or 500 ppm gibberillic without supplemental fertilization had completely fill the floret with hyphae acid (GA4) or distilled water. Scarifica- shoot weights similar to those of plants and conidia (Wagner, 1964). tion also was applied to the seeds across 3 3 receiving 1.5 lb N/yd (0.89 kg N/m ) The primary natural method of all GA1 treatments. Seeds were scari - from both quick or slow release reproduction in the dune habitat is fied using 600-grit sandpaper and gen- fertilizers. Increasing N to 3 lb/yd3 through vegetative means. Buds are tly rubbing the seeds between fingers. 3 (1.78 kg N/m ) and/or supplying formed around the stem base, and the A scarified only and non-treated con- micronutrients only, reduced shoot formation angle of the buds determine trol also were included. weight. Nursery production of Uniola whether shoot or lignified Seeds were planted in 40-cell trays paniculata in pine bark-sand is one rhizomaceous tissue develops (Wag- using a standard nursery seed propaga- way to increase the supply of this important dune plant. ner, 1964). Acutely angled buds be- tion media consisting of 1 peat moss : come tillers and right angled buds 1 perlite (by volume) and germinated become rhizomes. Internodal potions in a shadehouse at Carolina Nurseries, 1Former graduate research assistant. Present address The Ohio State University 2001 Fyffe, Columbus, OH 43210. of the rhizomes decay leaving the nodal Moncks Corner, S.C. Preplant fertili- 2Professor, E-142 P&A Bldg, Box 340375, Clemson regions with associated culms to root zation for all treatments included in- 3 -3 University, Clemson, SC 29634-0375 and become new plants. As sand is corporation of 9 lb/yd ( 5.34 kg·m ) Technical contribution no. 4073 of the South Carolina deposited around the base of the plant, 18N-2.6P–9.9K Osmocote and 9 lb/ Agricultural Experiment Station, Mention of a trade- these rhizomes establish roots in dune yd3 ( 5.34 kg·m-3) 14–7–7 granular fer- mark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute sand. tilizer (Carolina Eastern-Malloy, a guarantee or warranty of the product and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or The dune habitat found along the Georgetown, S.C.). Apreplant drench vendors that may be suitable. The cost of publishing this coastal regions of the Southeast lacks of Banrot (O.M. Scotts Co., Marysville, paper was defrayed inpart by the payment of page charges. Under postal regulations, this paper therefore must be sufficient nutrients for optimal growth Ohio) at 8 lb/100 gal (3.63 kg/25.8 hereby marked advertisement solely to indicate this fact. (Wagner, 1964). Commercial nurser- liter) was applied. Seed were planted 1 295 Table 1. Germination percentages of Uniola paniculata seeds as effected by preplant treatments. planted in a 4 pine bark :1 sand (by volume) media on 15 Mar. 94 at Caro- lina Nurseries. The plants were planted with the crowns even with the top of the media in trade 1-gal (2.8-liter) containers. Fertilizers were applied at standardized rates of nitrogen, 1.5 or 3 lb N/yd3 (0.89 or 1.78 kg N/m3), on 5 Apr. 1994. The containers were topdressed with the following nursery fertilizer formulations: 1) 14-7-7 with z micronutrients granular quick release Treatments analyzed using least significant difference (LSD) mean separation. Column means with the formulation (16.2 or 32.4 g/con- same letter are not different based on P = 0.05. tainer), 2) 18–3–6 with micronutri- ents Osmocote Custom Blend slow inch (2.5 cm) deep with two seeds per seed-grown liners of Uniola paniculata release (12.6 or 25.2 g/container), 3 ) cell. Treatments were arranged in a were planted in a 4 pine bark : 1 sand 16–7–12 without micronutrients Os- randomized complete block design (by volume) media on 15 Mar. 1994 at mocote slow release (14.2 or 28.4 g/ (RCBD) with five blocks of each seed Carolina Nurseries. Two containerizes container) , or 4) STEP micronutri- treatment and five replicate cells per were used: 3.8 liter (19 cm diameter × ents 2 lb/yd3 STEP (3 g/container) block. 17.8 cm) and 9.2 liter (20.3 cm diam- (a complete micronutrient formula- The 40-cell trays were irrigated eter × 38.1 cm), full l-gal and 3-gal tion from O.M. Scotts Co.). The con- by mist for 5 min initially followed by tree containers respectively. The liners trol was not topdressed with addi- mist every 16 min for 8 sec during the were placed in the 3.8-liter containers tional fertilizer, however it did receive first 10 days and then every 32 min for with the crown either even with the the normal nursery practice of twice 8 sec for the remainder of the study. surface of the media or 4 inches (10 weekly fertilizer-injected irrigation, The study was started on 17 Nov. cm) below the media surface. Liners which contained 1.28 mol·liter-l -1 1993 and concluded 20 Dec. 1993. were planted in the 9.2-liter contain- Mg(NO3) 2·2H2O, 3.80 mol·liter –1 On 20 Dec. 1993, germination per- ers with the crown also 4 inches (10 KNO3, and 0.96 mol·liter K 2HPO4. centages were determined for the seed cm) below the media surface. The Treatments were arranged in a RCBD treatments. Analysis of variance and bottom of the deeply planted liners with five blocks per container treat- least significant difference determined, were either on the bottom of the 3.8- ment. Irrigation was applied using if F test was significant at P = 0.05, liter container or 20 cm above the overhead sprinklers following normal were performed on all data. container bottom for the 9.2 -liter con- nursery practice of 12.5 mm of water A follow-up study was conducted tainer.