Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L. fmr. Cimicifuga racemosa) is a culturally and economically significant herb native to the eastern forests of North America.  Today it is used primarily to reduce the symptoms associated with peri-menopause and menopause, especially hot flashes. Hormone therapy (HT), once considered the preferred method of preventing bone loss and treating climacteric symptoms in women, is now considered unsuitable for long-term use.  Black cohosh, with a historical record of use and a clinical safety record dating back many decades, is one of many promising alternatives to HT. As the popularity of black cohosh grows, plant populations in the United States face threats from increased wild harvesting and habitat loss. Black cohosh is listed as an endangered species in Illinois and Massachusetts and is among the top ranked medicinal plant species of special concern listed by the Nature Conservancy. Educating wild harvesters on the need for conservation of this herb and the potential for its successful cultivation will reduce pressure on wild populations. Current cultivation practices emphasize propagation through rhizome cuttings, though seed propagation is the preferred method to ensure continued genetic diversity in this plant.  Studies at Frostburg State University, using seeds collected from black cohosh populations at Potomac, Green Ridge, and Savage River State Forests in Maryland, are investigating germination rates.  Seeds from 92 open-pollinated families were sorted and exposed to alternating periods of warmth and cold, and treated with bleach with the aim of reducing losses due to fungal pathogens observed in the field.
Results/Conclusions

This will be the first documentation of germination rates across individual plants and three specific populations.  Developing scientifically rigorous stratification protocols resulting in high germination rates will encourage cultivation of locally-adapted seed by growers of other medicinal herbs and specialty crops. Techniques used in this study may be applied to other herbs with low germination rates and ensure this beneficial herb’s continued use.