Abstract Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos L. Fabaceae) seeds require scarification to allow imbibition and subsequent germination. Seedcoat removal, hot water, and acid scarification are known methods to induce germination. In this study, we used flame in the form of a butane lighter and a butane culinary torch as well as direct heat from a soldering iron to scarify honeylocust seeds. These methods were found to be successful with the following average germination rates: lighter 89%, torch 78%, and soldering iron 73%. These germination rates were statistically significantly higher than the negative control of no treatment, which had a 3% rate, and were not statistically different from physical seedcoat nicking or positive control with a rate of 83%.
Connolly et al. (Fri,) studied this question.