This thread should be moved to the germination forum, I think. Good topic!
I think Rob is correct about the seaweed containg gibberellin. From studies I have read, and from personal experience, the double integument seed coats of Musa are, if not disturbed by mechanical means, impenetrable to gases and water. Some disagree with me, and I'm sure results do vary. I've never used it as a foliar spray.
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Originally Posted by mrbungalow
A given number of seeds in a batch of Musa seeds are naturally unable to germinate. This is because these lack certain structures, for example an embryo. This varies from species to species though.
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You would be surprised to find out that this isn't usually the case, Erlend. Tests were done in a 1960s study on Musa balbisiana, in which the seeds that did not germinate were tested for viability. They cut the seeds open and did a tetrazolium test on the embryos. Almost
ALL of the seeds were viable (over 95%), but only a small percentage, comparatively, germinated.
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There is pretty wide agreement these days that to break musa-seeds' dormancy you need to get the temps way up and way down in a 24 hr period.
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Yes, this is the way to go to get the best germination percentages (at present). It's finding the right combination of temps and time that's tricky! I also believe that there's another dormancy, or more, that still hasn't been figured out.
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Interestingly, pH seems to play a role, I think 5.6 is the magic number. I allways get more seeds to sprout in peat than in soil with sand. But I have never really paid much attention to this. Maybe I will on my next batch.
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I've got an experiment going right now with M. sikkimensis, some sowed in a peat/perlite mix, and the other sowed in quartz sand. I'll let you know if I get any results! pH does play a role, but a limited one. A pH < 3.7 is bad, and will result in zero germination. Varying pHs above that didn't seem to make a difference.
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This emphasizes again the ridiculus practice of selling 5 or 10 musa seeds. Atleast 50 are needed to ensure germination. I allways buy in the 100s.
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Agreed! I get a kick out of these 5-packs of Musa seeds! When I first started trying to germinate Musa seeds a few years ago, I only would buy ten or so at a time though. Now, after many failures, I know better! I think if you only want one or two plants, and the seeds are readily available, then 20 might do it. If, however, the seeds aren't available that often, not much is known about their germination percentage, etc., then at least 50 is definitely called for.