Effects of moist stratification, GA3 and seed age on seed germination of Rheum khorasanicum B. Baradaran & A. Jafari

• Stratification and GA3 treatments improved seed germination of R. khorasanicum.
• Increasing stratification period improved germination characteristics.
• There is a negative relationship between seed age and seed germination characteristics.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of some breaking dormancy treatments on R. khorasanicum seeds. Treatments were arranged in three experiments: (1) Stratification temperature (2 and 5 °C in moist perlite), length of stratification period (0, 15, 20, 25 and 30 d) and germination temperature (2, 5 and 13 °C); (2) Combinational treatment of stratification period (0, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days) and gibberellic acid of 500 ppm (0, 24 and 48 h); (3) Combinational treatment of (2 and 10 months after harvesting) and stratification period (0, 15, 20, 25 and 30 d). The results showed that the best temperature for stratification and germination was 2 and 5 °C, respectively, with a stratification period of 30 d. The highest seed germination percentage (81%) was obtained by soaking in 500 ppm GA3 for 48 h followed by stratification at 2 °C for 30 days. A negative correlation between germination traits and seed age was observed. The highest germination percentage was achieved in 2-month-old seeds.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide