EFFECT OF LIGHT, TEMPERATURE AND DIFFERENT PRETREATMENTS ON SEED GERMINATION OF GENTIANA BOISSIERI SCHOTT ET KOTSCHY EX BOISS. (GENTIANACEAE) AN ENDEMIC TO TURKEY

WOS: 000402947500006This study was undertaken with the aim of determining the germination characteristics of Gentiana boissieri (Gentianaceae), an endemic species. The effects of light, temperature and different pretreatments on the germination of seeds collected from nature were investigated. Two different experiments were run to determine germination characteristics of seeds and the final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT) and germination index (GI). The first experiment involved twenty different treatments including soaking in water, soaking in gibberellic acid (GA(3)), dry stratification, moist cold stratification, moist warm stratification + moist cold stratification, moist cold stratification + soaking in GA(3) and control. The germination test was carried out at +20 degrees C in dark. The highest final germination percentages were obtained from the treatments of soaking in 500, 750, 1000 ppm GA(3), soaking in 250, 500 ppm GA(3) + 4 weeks of moist cold stratification (89.00; 95.00; 93.50; 91.33; 94.00%, respectively). In the control group with no pretreatment, the fmal germination percentage of seeds was found to be 13.50%. In the second experiment, seeds treated with 750 ppm GA(3) pretreatment, providing highest germination rate in the first experiment, were germinated under dark and light conditions (12/12 h; dark/light) at 15, 20, 25 and 10/20 degrees C. At the end of 28 days under four different temperatures, it was found that light significantly increased the final germination percentage and the highest final germination percentages were found at 15 and 20 degrees C (87.00; 89.50%, respectively).Scientific and Technological Research Council of TurkeyTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [112O060]This study was carried out with the support of "The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project No. 112O060)". Species identification was made by Assoc. Prof. Emine Alcitepe