Effects of gibberellic acid and storage temperature on the germination of hawthorn seeds

JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE, 63, 2017 (9): 417–۴۲۴
doi: 10.17221/24/2017-JFS

Effects of gibberellic acid and storage temperature
on the germination of hawthorn seeds

Fatemeh AHMADLOO 1*, Masoud TABARI KOUCHAKSARAEI 2,
Gholam Reza GOODARZI 3, Azadeh SALEHI 1

۱ Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research,
Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
۲ Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences,
Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
۳ Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Markazi Agricultural and Natural Resources
Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension
Organization (AREEO), Arak, Iran

Corresponding author: fatemeh_ahmadloo@yahoo.com

Abstract

Ahmadloo F., Tabari Kouchaksaraei M., Goodarzi G.R., Salehi A. (2017): Effects of gibberellic acid and storage
temperature on the germination of hawthorn seeds. J. For. Sci., 63: 417–۴۲۴٫
This study investigated methods to overcome seed dormancy in Crataegus pseudoheterophylla Pojarkova seeds. Seeds
with and without endocarps were treated with gibberellic acid (GA3) at different concentrations and four storage
temperatures. Then they were stratified in an alternate temperature regime. The amount of absorbed water in seeds
with endocarps was monitored by measuring the fresh weight of seeds for 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of imbibition. The
electrical conductivity (EC) and the percentage of water uptake by seeds stored for 12 months at laboratory temperature,
in a refrigerator, in a freezer, and in freeze-thaw conditions were measured. The highest germination (59.7%) was
recorded in seeds without endocarps treated with 3,000 mg·l–۱ GA3 and stored either in a laboratory or a refrigerator
(۳۲٫۷–۳۵٫۳%). All treatments of seeds without endocarps where GA3 was applied showed statistically higher percentages
of germination than the control. Seeds with endocarps stored at refrigerator temperature imbibed water up to
۴۴٫۳% with increasing imbibition periods, whereas the amount of seeds that absorbed water in freezer and freeze-thaw
conditions was almost the same. The tests showed the highest EC during storage in the freezer, with the lowest water
uptake and viability in seeds stored during the freeze-thaw process

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Keywords: Crataegus spp.; electrical conductivity; endocarp; seed dormancy; water uptake

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