A Comparison of Seed Germination Media for the Propagation of Cannabis sativa L.

Abstract

Legalization of the use of Cannabis sativa in New Jersey has led to increased interest in farming and efficient propagation practices of the plant. This investigation aims to enhance the production methods of the Cannabis sativa plant, beginning with seed germination. Seeds were germinated on cellulosic and gel-based media to identify an effective and cost-efficient material. If gelatin could be a substitute for agar with the resultant media at a similar caliber, then it could be a cost-effective alternative. After disinfection with 1% H2O2, 58 seeds were germinated; 24 on gelatin-based Murashige-Skoog, 24 on agar-based Murashige-Skoog, and 10 on moistened cellulosic media as a control group. After 3 days at 22°C in darkness, seed germination was 91.7% on gelatin- based media, 91.7% on agar-based media, and 77.7% on the control (cellulosic) medium. There was no statistically significant difference between the types of gelled media, nor between gelled media and cellulosic media, with respect to seed germination. Using radicle length as an indicator of later plant success, the mean radicle length of the agar was 3% longer than cellulosic and 38% longer than gelatin. The agar demonstrated a slight advantage over the other two media. Gelatin did not produce the anticipated results and is not an improvement over agar-based media for the germination of Cannabis sativa seeds.