Effects of shading on seed germination of Poa pratensis and Festuca rubra

The present study evaluated the effects of shading on germination of different cultivars of Poa pratensis (Merit, NuGlade and K. B. G) and Festuca rubra (Boreal and Rubra). The shading treatments including 22%, 45%, 66% and 83% of shading and no shading as control. The results showed that shading treatments significantly increased (P＜0.05) the germination percentage, the germination power, the germination index and the vigor index which also increased with the increasing of shading. But the length of radicle decreased and the length of germ increased with the increasing of shading.