Post date: May 02, 2017 10:59:1 PM
Week of 1v16.
We used the following to come up with our planting plan:
https://www.noble.org/globalassets/docs/medicago-handbook/growing-medicago-truncatula.pdf
https://www.noble.org/globalassets/docs/medicago-handbook/vernalization.pdf
We planted and grew them in the greenhouse. Current photo period is 14/10. We will get to 16/8 in June. This is perfect according to the sources above.
We filled pots Wednesday, 3v17.
We used soil, Sunshine Mix #4 (Aggregate plus, in 3.8 cu. ft. bags and Perlite in a 4 cu. ft. bag from Steve Regen in town. They can deliver to the greenhouse, or you can pick it up in person. The soil bags are incredibly heavy.
We mixed a 1/3 soil bag in with 5 big scoops of perlite in a wheelbarrow in the head house. We wet the soil in room 2. We filled the pots most of the way (~5cm shy of the top). 3:1 soil:perlite is recommended in the sources above, but we we at more like 4:1 (or less perlite, although the sunshine #4 mix does have perlite in it).
The pots are 4in x 4in x 3.5in (tall). This is the pot size we used to grow M. sativa in the growth chambers in the lab for the desiccation/CHC pilots. = 56 in3. =0.032 ft3.
As of 5v17, we have 1.75 bags of soil left and most of that bag of perlite left; they are being stored in the greenhouse with the rest of our pots in a box and some pre-mixed soil+perlite in two plastic bins.
We planted on Thursday & Friday, 4-5v17.
We used 100 genotypes, planted 5 seeds per pot, and planted 5 replicates (reps 1-2 on Thurs, reps 3-5 on Fri).
We wrote genotype name and rep # on each plant tag. (Tags = Pylon 4 Plastic Pot Label, White, 4-Inch)
We will randomized genotypes within replicates, and planted the seeds in random order (next time consider randomizing after planting to save time). Zach has the list of randomized genotypes per replicate.
We mechanically scarified the seeds with sandpaper, put the seeds on top of wet soil in a slight divot, and covered the seeds with ~10mm dry soil/perlite mixture. We then misted the pots, and covered the pots with humidity domes until germination.
We are using the following trays and domes:
Extra Strength Seedling Propagation Tray (No Drain Holes) - 20" x 10", 60 Pack, for Growing Microgreens, Wheatgrass Seeds, Hydroponic Germination, Fodder System 1020 Starter by Bootstrap Farmer
Yield Lab 7 Inch Propagation Domes
10 of our pots fit on a tray, so we have 50 trays in the greenhouse.