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Post by GregNY on Oct 23, 2009 0:44:27 GMT
so I received quite a batch of different sarr seeds and began the stratification process about 2 weeks ago using a damp paper towel in the fridge method. Just took them out today to observe and noticed these reddish blotches, not located around the seeds but more so on the outer folds. I'm assuming its mold, I was just thinking mold, if it were to appear, would come a different color. Any feedback on what these are and tips to treat is appreciated. sorry for the blurry pics. you should be able to make out what I'm talking about, if not I'll reshoot.
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Post by peterhewitt on Oct 23, 2009 11:30:31 GMT
it could be mold or it could be that the paper towel you used, has a high bleach content, or some other chemical that has stained the paper. i usually just leave it. or you could just change the paper towel with a new one.
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Post by peterhewitt on Oct 23, 2009 11:32:16 GMT
Also, Molds and Fungi, do come in a variety of colours.
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Post by GregNY on Oct 23, 2009 13:45:20 GMT
thanks for the suggestions. I honestly dont believe it to be mold, like you said, something in the paper towel is what I'm thinking, so I'm just going to leave it for now and keep up on observation
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Post by Not a Number on Oct 23, 2009 13:47:52 GMT
I've seen that from time to time. I believe the coloration is coming from the seeds themselves. The seeds germinated regardless.
If it worries you, change the paper towels
I recall reading that one of the compounds that inhibits seed germination is purplish in color. That's why some people will soak Byblis seed in a weak bleach solution prior to sowing. However, as I recall also one of Ellison's Sarracenia germination studies did not reveal any significant effect from bleaching Sarracenia seeds.
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Post by GregNY on Oct 23, 2009 13:51:22 GMT
not a number - great insight as to whats going on. I have 2 more weeks of them in the fridge and then they should be ready to be sown. I will keep an eye just to make sure nothing progresses....
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Post by GregNY on Oct 24, 2009 4:17:04 GMT
contacted today by a customer service agent for the paper towel brand I'm using and was told that the company uses a variety of processes and compounds to bleach and brighten the pulps and recycled fiber used in its tissue and paper products. These agents include chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydrosulfite, oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide. Don't know much about the colors a chemical may turn due to my conditions but hoping one of them is the cause for these blotches
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Post by kwinkler on Oct 24, 2009 13:20:12 GMT
I suspect that the source of the stains are molds and fungi that find the paper towels particularly condusive to their growth. Most of the bleaching agents that the manufacturer mentioned to you will dissipate in the manufacturing process (e.g. the peroxide, oxygen) and some of the others will have to be reduced to extremely small levels in the process. For example the bleach (the hypochlorite) will be rinsed away - very dilute bleach solutions don't seem to have much of an effect on Sarracenia seeds in my experience.
I used to have the same problem myself. In general it doesn't seem to hurt the seeds (germination) if they were stratified for a reasonable period of time (several months). Occasionally I would miss a packet of stratified seeds that would be refridgerated for a year in which case if there was this staining the seeds had generally decomposed and if there wasn't staining the seeds were generally fine.
In my experience the problem is greatly reduced if I carefully removed any non-seed litter and use filter paper (e.g. coffee filter paper) instred of paper towels. I think they make unbleached coffee filters too. The problem seems to go away for me if I use analytic filter paper (available from scientific supply companies like Carolina). I suspect this is because this paper must be particulalry clean (residues eliminated) and because the fibers are more densely packed and therefore form a less hospitible environment for the molds and fungi. The one other benefit is that this paper holds up much better than paper towels when wet and is easier to unfold.
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Post by Fred P on Oct 30, 2009 5:43:43 GMT
I use paper towel all the time and this type of staining happens to me every year. I've always attributed it to mold but never really gave it much more thought because it never seemed to degrade the germination process of any of my Sarrs seeds. I've had 100% germination on seeds that came from paper towel with this type of staining. I wouldn't worry about it.
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taz6122
Full Member
Yesterday is History.Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a Gift.Thats why we call it the Present.
Posts: 289
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Post by taz6122 on Oct 30, 2009 12:02:10 GMT
I've had 100% germination on seeds that came from paper towel with this type of staining. 100% is high for even weeds.
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Post by Fred P on Oct 31, 2009 3:02:49 GMT
100% is high for even weeds. Agreed its not the norm but I've had a number of crosses that I received 100% germination and they were all stratified in paper towel.
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Post by GregNY on Oct 31, 2009 6:43:55 GMT
thanks guys for the input. I'm approaching the completion of the stratification soon so I will be able to report my success in germination in a month or 2. Fred you really provided me with some ease of mind, hope mine goes as well as yours has in growing from seed.
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Post by Fred P on Oct 31, 2009 20:56:27 GMT
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