Effects of cold-stratification, gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate on seed germination of yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea L.)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to show the effect of cold-stratification, gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate on seed germination of yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea L.). The seeds of natural yellow gentian populations of the Albanian Alps (Kosovo) were collected in September 2010. Seeds placed in filter paper (plastic bag) and in mixture of sand-soil were cold-stratified (2±1°C) for 72 days. The effect of different concentrations of gibberellic acid (250, 500 and 1000 ppm GA 3) and potassium nitrate (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% KNO 3) in final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT) and germination index (GI) in non-stratified and stratified seeds were examined. Seeds stratified in filter paper and treated with 1000 ppm GA 3 and 0.1% KNO 3 showed significantly higher percentage of germination (FGP and GI), while seeds stratified in mixture of sand-soil showed the highest values of FGP and GI in treatments with 500 ppm GA 3 and different concentrations of KNO 3. The cold-stratification and GA 3 treatments of yellow gentian seeds are suitable for the higher percentage of germinations.

Non-Deep Simple Morphophysiological Dormancy and Germination Characteristics of Gentiana triflora var. japonica (Kusn.) H. Hara (Gentianaceae), a Rare Perennial Herb in Korea

“…In a previous study, dormancy breaking and germination were improved by applying GA 3 to Gentiana species; this has also been observed in numerous other plant species [22,[43][44][45][46]. Similarly, in this study, the final germination was enhanced by the application of 100 and 1000 mg•L −1 exogenous GA 3 at 90.0 ± 2.0% and 84.0 ± 4.3%, respectively (Figure 6A).…”

“…In addition, the absorbed nitrate is used as a nutrient, which affects the regulation of GA and ABA involved in seed germination [51,52]. Millaku et al [44] determined that the seeds of G. lutea L. had higher germination when pre-treated with a mixed solution of 1000 mg•L −1 GA 3 and 0.1% KNO 3 . Furthermore, the germination of wild plant seeds of Maesa japonica, Astilboides tabularis (Hemsl.)…”