Effects of Watering Frequency, Grain Size of Vermiculite, and Various Temperatures on the Emergence of Zinnia (Zinnia violacea) Seeds with or without Pericarps

Abstract

Emergence of zinnia (Zinnia violacea Cav.) seeds with and without their pericarps were assessed with 3 grain size of vermiculite media and 2 watering frequency at 4 temperatures. Removal of pericarps, frequency of watering, and grain size of vermiculite significantly affected percentage of emergence and the days to emergence of zinnia seeds. The effect of pericarp removal on the percentage of emergence was greatest at 15°C, then at 20°C ; the treatment had no effect at 25 and 30°C, whereas the effects of grain size of vermiculite was relatively small compared to those of frequency of watering at any temperature.