Transcript Spiral Roots What is Spiral Root? Negative Geotropism Diagram shows particles gravitating to bottom where they influence hormonal actions that slows growth on the underside causing.

Spiral Roots
What is Spiral Root?
Negative Geotropism
Diagram shows particles
gravitating to bottom where
they influence hormonal
actions that slows growth on
the underside causing the
root to curve downward as the
upper side continues to grow.
Over
Packing


Saturation of media
Heavy tray
 200 cell tray = 8.3 lbs


Tray sinks lower
into water
Spiral Root
Effects of Over Packing
on Spiral Root
25
20
15
%
10
5
0
Dry/Gravity
Medium/Gravity
Medium/Light
High/Tight
Dibbled
0
1.25
4.75
20.5
NonDibbled
0
0.5
0
2.75
Moisture/Pack
Factors that Influence Spiral Root
Media
 Varies by brand
 May change from
year to year
 Pellet
 Unpredictable
How do these factors
 Weather
Influence spiral Root?
 Inconsistent
 Moderately
predictable

How is a pellet made

Coating
 Diatomaceous earth
 Main Ingredient
 Binding agent
 Etc.
Diatoms
What factors influence pellet
performance?

Positive
 Negative
 Melt down coat
 Hard Seed Coat
 Less drying conditions
 Drying Conditions
 Cloudy, cooler
 Sunny, hot
conditions
weather
 Optimum wicking media
 Poor Wicking
Media
 Good seed/soil contact
 Initial moisture
 Agri-mate
 Wetting agent
 Double Dibbling
 Over packing
 Overhead Irrigation
How does roots respond to a
damaged root cap?
What happens to the root cap of a
seed that has enough moisture to
germinate, but not enough to
break out of the pellet
Germination (%)
Effect of Agri-mate on germination
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
No Agri-mate
0.02 g/cell
0.04 g/cell
0.06g/cell
Source A
Source B
Seed Source
Source C
Spiral root (%)
Effect of Agri-mate on spiral root
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
No Agri-mate
0.02 g/cell
0.04 g/cell
0.06g/cell
Source A
Source B
Seed Source
Source C
Useable Plants (%)
Effect of Agri-mate on useable plants
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
No Agri-mate
0.02 g/cell
0.04 g/cell
0.06g/cell
Source A
Source B
Seed Source
Source C
Agri-mate rates
0g/cell
0.02 g
0.04g
0.06g
Proper distribution of Agrimate
Effect of covering on seed germination
2002
Germination (%)
Promix TA
Scotts
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
No cover
0.15 g sand
0.1 g
Agrimate
0.17 g
Agrimate
Spiral Root (%)
Effect of covering on spiral root 2002
Promix TA
Scotts
0.15 g sand
0.1 g
Agrimate
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
No cover
0.17 g
Agrimate