Seed Germination and Nursery Operations

Vocabulary flashcards covering seed testing methods, types of planting materials, and methods of plant propagation from the lecture notes.

Germination

The process by which a seed develops into a new plant.

Incubation

The period during which seeds are kept under specific conditions to promote germination.

Extraneous

Unrelated orirrelevant; often refers to unwanted materials mixed with seeds.

Chaff

The husks and other debris separated from seeds during threshing.

Moisture

The presence of water or liquid, typically necessary for seed germination and growth.

Seed Testing

An essential process in horticulture and agriculture to guarantee the viability and quality of seeds by assessing planting value, percentage composition, weed seeds, and moisture content.

Germination Testing

The process of ascertaining the percentage of seeds that, under ideal circumstances, are capable of sprouting and growing into robust plants.

Ragdoll Method

A germination test where seeds are placed between $2$ moist, rolled-up pieces of cloth or paper towels and kept in a warm, dark place for often $7-10$ days.

Petri Dish Method

A germination test where seeds are placed on a moist filter paper or cotton pad inside a petri dish under controlled temperature and humidity.

Seed box / Seed Tray Method

A procedure where seeds are sown in a soil medium or growth substrate within a box or tray to mimic real planting conditions.

Seeds

Small parts of a plant that can grow into a new plant when planted and given the right conditions.

Suckers

New shoots that grow from the base or roots of a parent plant and can be separated to grow independently.

Tissue cultured plantlets

Young plants grown in a laboratory from small pieces of plant tissue under sterile conditions.

Cuttings

Pieces of a plant (stem, leaf, or root) that are cut and planted to grow into a new plant.

Rhizome

A type of planting material with examples such as Ginger, Turmeric, and Bamboo.

Corm

A type of planting material with Taro (Gabi) as a primary example.

Grafted material

A plant made by joining parts from $2$ different plants so they grow as one.

Tuber

A swollen underground stem that stores food and can grow into a new plant, such as a potato.

Method of Propagation

The procedure or technique used to propagate plants, which can be categorized as sexual or asexual.

Sexual propagation

The natural processes by which plants reproduce and propagate without human intervention through seeds and spores.

Asexual propagation

The process of creating new plants from plant parts such as stem, roots, leaves, and buds.

Direct seeding

The practice of planting seeds directly into the soil where they will grow.

Indirect seeding

The practice of germinating seeds indoors or in containers before planting them into the soil where they will grow to maturity.