Most woody plants produce seed that will not germinate immediately after
harvest. Normally this is because of one of three reasons:
– Seed is immature and needs more time to develop;
– A mechanical barrier is keeping water from reaching the seed;
– A physiological block is inhibiting germination.
Immature seed needs time to complete development and does not require
special treatment. The water barrier and/or physiological block require
special treatments to prepare the seed for germination. One such
treatment is stratification. Stratification is a process whereby seed is
given the moisture and temperature conditions normally found in its
natural environment. Seeds that are shed in early fall often require a
warm, moist stratification period before the seed will germinate. Those
that drop later in the fall may respond to cool, moist conditions. In
Kansas, the most common stratification needed is the cool, moist type.
The amount of time required for stratification varies with the plant
species. For example, apple requires 75 days, red oak needs 30 to 45
days and sugar maple should have 60 to 90 days. All three of these
species require cool, moist conditions. If unsure of the amount of time
required for a specific species, 3 to 4 months usually is sufficient.
For cool stratification, temperatures just above freezing are best, with
a range between 35 and 45 degrees considered ideal. Temperatures higher
and lower than this are less effective. The minimum temperature at which
stratification occurs is reported to be 23 degrees, and the maximum is
62 degrees.
Stratification should be done in a medium that is moist but not soggy.
If there is too little moisture, the seed coat does not take up the
water needed. Too much reduces the amount of oxygen available to the
seed. If peat moss is used, a ratio of 1 or 1 1/4 parts water to 1 part
air-dried peat moss by weight is recommended. When wetting peat moss,
use warm water, which is absorbed more quickly than cold.
Small amounts of seed can be stratified by placing the seed in moist
peat moss inside a plastic bag and placing the bag in the refrigerator.
Small seeds can be placed between two sheets of cheesecloth so they are
not lost in the medium. Larger amounts of seed can be placed in a
plastic container or wooden box. Place layers of seed between layers of
moist sand or a mixture of sand and peat moss. Bury the container
outside so the top is even with the soil surface, and cover with leaves
or straw. Alternatively, the container may be placed in an unheated
garage or root cellar. (Ward Upham)
Stratification
WSU’s new Applied Technology Acceleration Institute partners with ANSWR, creates new lab
The Applied Technology Acceleration Institute (ATAI) has a new partner that could reinvent how social knowledge is created, discovered and shared at Wichita State and across the globe. The ATAI has partnered with ANSWR, an invitation-based knowledge discovery, curation and collaboration platform.
ANSWR turns searching the Internet into shared knowledge and analytics. The goal at ANSWR is to make the Internet more human; to make adding to and tapping into the collective knowledge on the web simple and fast.
Kenneth Russell, director of ATAI, was hired in June and tasked with expanding the reach and focus of the ATAI. Russell expects ANSWR to be a key partner in the ATAI’s new Center for Social Knowledge.
“ANSWR’s unique and practical approach to the discovery, organization and curation of knowledge is fundamental to effective social knowledge management,” he said.
“Joining the institute and creating an ANSWR Lab at Wichita State is a great first step,” said ANSWR CEO Michael Wexler. “We share the belief that experiential learning is key for students; and it and gives us access to valuable talent as we help our customers gain actionable insights and strategic knowledge.”
Lifelong learning
The initial contract will provide funding to hire three students for an entire academic year.
“Our students will be a part of next-generation advances in technology and, more importantly, the impact of those technologies,” said Russell. “Searching the Internet has become a daily part of our lives, and WSU students will have the opportunity to make that activity more meaningful and accurate.”
“By placing student workers side-by-side with partners in real work situations, both benefit from the collaboration and accelerated pace. Students are transformed with new confidence and a sense of greater purpose. They learn practical approaches, methods and capabilities that will serve them as lifelong learners in the new knowledge economy.”
This is the second industry relationship announced by the ATAI; the first was NetApp, announced in May. The ATAI is located in Don Beggs Hall and is a key component of the Innovation Campus strategy. Focused on providing experiential learning opportunities for students and building strong industry partnerships, the ATAI promotes a practical approach to solving complex technology problems.
ANSWR is a leading technology company focused on reinventing how social knowledge is created, discovered, and shared on the Internet. As more knowledge migrates to the Internet, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find one simple, reliable solution to a specific problem. Better search is only a small part of a better solution.
Contact: Brandy Glennie
Sherrod and the Cougars strike for four first half goals in win at Hesston
Mother nature was the only thing to slow down the Barton Community College men’s soccer team Tuesday night as four first half goals led to the non-conference victory at Hesston College. With the game being called at halftime due to inclement weather rolling through central Kansas, the Cougars forty-five minute effort improved Barton to 3-3-3 on the season while dropping Hesston to 9-5.
Just like in the women’s contest earlier, it didn’t take the Cougars long to score as Renan Sousa converted a penalty kick just 7:03 into the game. Four minutes later Matt Sherrod scored the first of the freshman’s two goals on the night rebounding a shot fifteen yards out to beat the goalkeeper lower far post. As if Sherrod had a stopwatch in his pocket the Maize High School product again struck four minutes later finishing off Jose Mijares’ pass giving Barton the three goal lead with 29:54 left. Nicolas Bernal put the finishing touches on the scoring with 4:20 remaining utilizing an Enrique Guyton pass to beat the Lark keeper one-on-one and give Barton the 4-0 decisive advantage.
Barton will next prepare for a pivotal conference match on Sunday, September 28, as the Cougars host Cloud County Community College in 4:00 p.m. Jayhawk battle at the Cougar Soccer/Track Complex. The Cougars sit in third place in the Jayhawk standings at 2-1-2 while the T-Birds are currently atop the standings at 3-1-1 and 3-4-1 overall.
