Effect of acid scarification and cold moist stratification on the germination of Cercis siliquastrum L. seeds

Authors : Elias PIPINIS, Elias MILIOS, Pavlos SMIRIS, Christos GIOUMOUSIDIS

Pages : 259-264

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Publication Date : 2011-06-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Dormancy in Cercis siliquastrum seeds is due to the hard, impermeable seed coat and inhibition by endosperm. The effects of acid scarification, cold moist stratification, and the combination of both on breaking dormancy and enhancing seed germination were evaluated. Seeds were scarified with concentrated insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(95%-97%); sulfuric acid for various times insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0, 20, 40, and 60 min);, followed by cold moist stratification for 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 months. Unscarified seeds did not germinate whether they were stratified insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(up until 4 months); or not. Similarly, seeds that were scarified insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(20, 40, and 60 min); and then stratified for 0 or 1 month did not germinate or exhibited very low germination percentages. The interaction between acid scarification and cold stratification treatments significantly affected seed germination. Particularly, after a period of 2 months of cold stratification, increasing the duration of scarification insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(20 to 60 min); also increased the germination percentages insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(31% to 65%);. High germination percentages equal to 94%, 88%, and 98% were attained after a period of 3 months of cold stratification for seeds that had been scarified for 20, 40, and 60 min, respectively. Longer periods of stratification insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(4 months); of seeds scarified for 20, 40, and 60 min reduced the germination percentages insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(81%, 68%, and 59%, respectively);. This decrease was higher in seeds that were scarified for 60 min.
Keywords : Key words Acid scarification, Cercis siliquastrum, cold stratification, dormancy, germination