Germination features of some Gaultheria in the RAS Main Botanical Garden

The aim of the study is to establish the characteristics of seed germination of representatives of the genus Gaultheria, which have edible fruits and are grown in the conditions of the Moscow Region, in a comparative aspect. The objects of the study are representatives of the genus Gaultheria: G. cuneata, G. procumbens, G. pumila (2 samples), G. pyroloides, G. shallon and G. sp. (Chile). Sowing seeds was carried out in 2019 in a heated greenhouse with an average temperature of 20-25 °С, superficially, either on high-moor peat of a low degree of decomposition, or its mixture with coarse-grained washed sand. Seed sizes, seed germination, seedling length, plant loss after overwintering were determined for G. cuneata (0.058±0.002 × 0.056±0.002 mm; 30.14 %; 0.23±0.03 cm; 24.68 %), G. procumbens (0.133±0.008 × 0.131±0.006 mm; 51.04 %; 0.56±0.10 cm; 23.10 %), G. pumila 1 (0.060±0.004 × 0.060±0.004 mm; 38.86 %; 0.61±0.06 cm; 35.37 %), G. pumila 2 (0.064±0.004 × 0.064±0.004 mm; 20.11 %; 2.94±0.40 cm; 30.13 %), G pyroloides (0.083±0.002 × 0.086±0.002 mm; 78.80 %; 0.17±0.03 cm; 22.55 %), G. shallon (0.100±0.003 × 0.101±0.002 mm; 53.18 %; 1.01±0.08 cm; 47.83 %) and G. sp. (0.124±0.005 × 0.120±0.004 mm; 21.64 %; 0.37±0.04 cm; 50.83 %). It can be recognized that G. pyroloides and G. procumbens are the most promising species for further introduction studies, and the measures taken to introduce this species into culture are considered satisfactory. For G. pumila and G. sp. it is necessary to develop a technology that increases the germination of seeds, and for G. sp., and in particular for G. cuneata, G. shallon, further research is required related to changes in the conditions for keeping seedlings.