Effects of Temperature on Germination in Three Subspecies of Big Sagebrush

Abstract

The relationship of germination to temperature was tested in seeds (achenes) from 10 individual plants from each of three subspecies of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) collected above 5,000 ft on sagebrush-grass range in Idaho. No optimum temperature for germination within subspecies was found. Subspecies vaseyana gave the lowest mean percent germination (10%) at temperatures in the range 2 degrees-30 degrees C, compared to 28% for subspecies wyomingensis and 38% for subspecies tridentata. Stratification improved germination of seeds in all collections of vaseyana and in some collections of the other two subspecies.