Germination of Alyssum homalocarpum affected by different seed dormancy breaking treatments

Subject Areas : Agroecology Journal

Ali Reza Ganjali ¹ , Majed Ajorlo ² , Abbas Khaksafidi ³

1 - Master in rangeland Department of Rangeland and Watershed University of Zabol Zabol, Iran
2 - Department of Rangel and and Watershed University of Zabol Zabol, Iran
3 - Department of Rangel and and Watershed University of Zabol Zabol, Iran

Received: 2015-03-04 Accepted : 2015-10-29 Published : 2015-11-22

Keywords: chemical stimulus, dormancy periodو, Endogenous dormancy, growth stimulant, inhibitors, semi-hormone,

Abstract :

The seed of some medicinal plants has different kinds of dormancy which is due to ecological compatibility with a variety of environmental conditions. Therefore, identification of the effective ecophysiological factors affecting dormancy and creation of optimal conditions is essential for seed germination of medicinal plants for their cultivation and production. An experiment based on a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications was conducted to evaluate the effect of different treatments on Alyssum homalocarpum seed germination. The treatments consisted of soaking seeds in potassium nitrate 0.2 and 0.1% for 48 hours, tap water for 24 hours, carbonyl diamide solution (urea) for 48 hours and distilled water (as control). The highest germination percentage (88%) and speed (0.92 seeds per day) of germination resulted from tap water treatment was available for 24 hours. Soaking seeds in water causes the reduction of mucilage formation around A. homalocarpum seed and significant increase of the germination percentage and speed. On the whole, seed dormancy in A. homalocarpum species is of physiological type which is due to the presence of inhibitor factors on the skin or in the embryo sac. Therefore, the most appropriate and effective treatment for breaking physiological seed dormancy in A. homalocarpum species was soaking the seeds in tap water for 24 hours.