Effects of cold stratification, sulphuric acid, submersion in hot and tap water pretreatments in the greenhouse and open field conditions on germination of bladder-Senna (Colutea armena Boiss. and Huet.) seeds

This study was carried out to determine which pre-treatments should be preferred to overcome dormancy problems of Colutea armena seeds which were collected from three different provenances. Pre-treatments applied to the seeds were submersion in concentrated (98%) sulphuric acid for 30 min, floating in hot water (100 degrees C) followed by continual cooling for 24 h in the same water, soaking in tap water (20 +/- 1 degrees C) for 24 h and cold stratification for 20, 40 and 60 days. The seeds were sown in polyethylene pots in the greenhouse and in seedbeds under open field conditions. The statistical approach was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Germinated seeds were observed periodically during 70 days to determine germination percentages and germination rates. The highest germination percentages (52.2, 56.7 and 60.5%) were obtained in seeds which were submersed in sulphuric acid for 30 min and sown in the greenhouse for all three provenances. The best germination rates for provenances of Koprubasi and Derinkoy were 14 and 16 days which were determined in seeds soaked in sulphuric acid for 30 min and sown in the greenhouse. On the other hand, the best germination rate (12 days) of provenance of Salkimli was determined in seeds which were floated in hot water (100 degrees C) followed by continual cooling for 24 h in the same water and sown under open field conditions