IMPROVEMENT OF ROSE GERMINATION WITH HOUSEHOLD ENZYMES
by Dr. Henry Kuska.
Originally published in the Rose Hybridizers Association Newsletter,Vol 25, spring 1994, pages 7-9.
INTRODUCTION. In a recent article Yambe, Takeno, and Saito(1) reported that the time required to germinate rose seeds could be greatly shortened by soaking the seeds first in macerating enzymes. The enzymes used were commercial enzymes that are normally available only to research laboratories. In this paper I have investigated the suitability of commonly available household enzyme preparations for enhancing rose seed germination.
METHOD USED. Commercial Angel rose seeds (Rosa X rehderiana) were obtained from Park Seed Company(2). The seeds are order number 1789-1 in their 1994 catalogue. In their table of germination times, a time of 50 days (+/-25%) was given. A footnote stated that they may take longer. Each test batch consisted of twenty five seeds. The seeds were soaked in a solution of the enzyme dissolved in 150 ml (about a half cup or 5 oz) of tap water for 40 hours. The solutions were kept in closed plastic containers out of direct sunlight during the soak. The containers were opened several times a day and the solutions swirled. The seeds were then washed several times with tap water and placed in plastic containers on coffee filters which were in contact with wet captan(3) treated sand. The containers were covered and placed out of direct sunlight at room temperature. The covers were removed daily to check for germination. The data are for a 33 day period. In addition to the household enzyme solutions, one solution contained one of the commercial enzymes, driselase, used by Yambe et. al. and one solution was a tap water blank.
RESULTS. The number of seedlings found are: 14 for the driselase(4) solution, 12 for Enforcer Drain Care(5), 9 for Bromelain digestive aid(6), 6 for ReNu, Effervescent Enzymatic Cleaner for Soft Contact Lenses(7), 6 for Acidophilus with pectin digestive aid(8), 5 for Drain Solution(9), 5 for Pancreatin digestive aid(10), 4 for Papaya digestive aid(11), 4 for Beno digestive aid(12), 3 for Drano(13), 3 for the tap water blank, and 1 for Natural Brand Enzyme digestive aid(14). The time data for the three best enzymes and the blank are given in Figure 1.
DISCUSSION. The results indicate that there are household enzymes that can be used to significantly increase the rate of rose seed germination. Since only 25 seeds were used in each batch, the differences between near neighbors in the above list cannot be considered as meaningful. Also, the optimum time and concentration for each enzyme were not determined. Some of the poorly performing tested enzymes may be suitable at different concentrations and/or soak periods.
REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES.
(1). Yambe,Y., Takeno, K., and
Saito, S., HortScience, 27, 1018-1020,(1992).
(2). Park Seed Company, Cokesbury Road, Greenwood, SC, 29647-0001.
(3). Captan, a fungicide produced by Bonide Products Inc. Yorkville, N.Y. 13495.
(4). Driselase, one teaspoon was used. Sigma Chemical Company, P.O. Box 14508, St. Louis,
MO 63178-9916.
(5). Enforcer Drain Care, one teaspoon was used. Product Code # DC-10, Formula Code
DC-01-0692. Active ingredients: Bacteria culture, enzymes: amylase, lipase, protease, and
cellulase. Enforcer Products, Inc., P.O. Box 1068, Cartersville, GA 30120.
(6). Bromelain, two 100mg tablets were used. A protein digesting pineapple enzyme. Triage
Pharmaceuticals Inc., New York, New York, 10001.
(7). ReNu, Effervescent Enzymatic Cleaner for Soft Contact Lenses, Two tablets were used.
The enzyme is subtilisin a proteolytic enzyme. Bausch and Lomb, Personal Products
Division, Rochester, New York 14692-0450.
(8). Acidophilus with pectin, three tablets were used. Each tablet contained a minimum of
one million cells of acidophilus and 100mg of pectin. Triage Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New
York, New York 10001.
(9). Drain Solution, one teaspoon was used. Exclusive bioactive, enzyme fortified formula.
Stock Number 5110, Cul-Mac Industries Inc., Wayne, Michigan.
(10). Pancreatin, three tablets were used. Each tablet contains 350mg of 4Xpancreatin and
will digest 49gm fat, 35gm protein, and 35gm of starch. Kal Inc, Woodland Hills, CA 91365.
(11). Papaya Enzyme, three tablets were used. Each tablet contains 10mg papaya. Approved
Pharmaceutical Corp., Syracuse, New York 13217.
(12). Drano Build-up Remover, Drain Cleaner, used one teaspoon. It contains bacterial
cultures, surfactants, and natural enzymes. S. C. Johnson and Son, Inc., Racine, WI 53403.
(13). Beano, 8 drops were used. It contains sorbitol and alphagalactosidase enzyme.
AkPharma Inc., P. O. Box 111, Pleasantville, NJ 08232.
(14). Natural Brand Enzyme Tablet, one tablet was used. Each tablet contains pancreatin
400mg, alpha amylase 130mg, betaine hydrochloride 65mg, pepsin 65mg, papain 65mg, and iron
ox bile 65mg. Natural Sales Company, Pittsburgh, PA 15230.