Effect of Halopriming on Dormancy Breaking and Improvement of Germination Traits of Judas Tree (Cercis Siliquastrum L.) Seeds

Norouzi Haroni, Naser; Tabari, Masoud; Sadati, Ehsan

Effect of Halopriming on Dormancy Breaking and Improvement of Germination Traits of Judas Tree (Cercis Siliquastrum L.) Seeds

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

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Abstract

The essential problem of Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum L.) is due to double dormancy (membrane dormancy and embryo dormancy) causing delay of germination and enhance of germination period. This investigation was conducted in order to seed breaking dormancy and improvement of germination characteristic. The experiment was done on scarified seeds with boil water and halopriming technique with concentrations of 0, 250, 500, 750, 1000 mM salt KNO3 (for 24 hours). The experiment was as completely randomized design with four replications in germinator (16 hours of light, 20 °C and 65% relative humidity). The results showed that boil water and halopriming technique (KNO3) in a 30-day halopriming could remove dormancy whereas scarified seeds with boil water and primed with 750 mM KNO3 improved germination percentage, germination speed and seed vigor index, respectively 3, 1.5 and 2.5 fold as compared to non-primed seeds. Likewise, in this salt concentration, in comparison with other ones, the least mean germination time, the greatest germination speed, shoot length and vigor index were appeared. For reducing the seed dormancy period and increasing the germination percentage of C. siliquastrum in nurseries, it is advised that the seeds before planting are to be scarified with boil water and then applied with KNO3 (essentially 750 mM for 24 hours) in halopriming technique.

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