Pak. J. Bot., 36(1): 65-74, 2004. | Back to Contents | ||||
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Updated: 09-07-09 | ||||
INFLUENCE OF SEED COAT TREATMENTS ON GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING GROWTH OF LUPINUS VARIUS L.
Abstract:
The seed coat treatments (mechanical
scarification, boiling seeds for 4, 6, 8 and 10 minutes and scarifying
in concentrated sulfuric acid for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 h) were tested
to overcome the seed coat impermeability and improve germination and
early seedling growth characteristics of Lupinus varius.
Mechanical scarification provided rapid and highest imbibitions,
germination percentage and seedling establishment, and also the highest
values of early seedling growth characteristics. Embryos of L. varius
could survive after boiling the seeds for 4, 6, 8 and 10 minutes and
final germination percentages were 68.3%,
80.0%, 71.7% and 63.3%, respectively. Boiling treatments also
improved some other germination and early seedling growth
characteristics compared with untreated seeds, but it was not completely
able to overcome the seed coat impermeability in any durations of
boiling time. Concentrated sulfuric acid treatments increased
imbibitions and germination percentages and improved early seedling
growth characteristics as the duration of scarification time increased.
However, shoot height and root length and their dry weights decreased,
and also abnormal geotropic growth occurred in radicles when seeds were
scarified in sulfuric acid for 20 and 24 h. Considering similarities in
most of germination and seedling growth characteristics, scarifying
seeds in sulfuric acid for 12 or 16 hours was found as alternative seed
coat treatments to mechanical scarification. Results indicate that
the seed coat dormancy in L. varius
is harder to overcome than those of other Lupinus species
and seed coats are not only impermeable but also might be heat
resistant.
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