The Effect of Apple Seed Stratification with Growth Regulators on Breaking the Dormancy of Seeds, the Growth of Seedlings and Chlorophyll Fluorescence

Abstract

The aim of the study was to shorten the period of breaking dormancy in apple seeds and to improve the growth of the seedlings of 'Gold Milenium', 'Ligol' and 'Szampion'. The whole seeds were removed from fruits directly after the harvest and were subjected to stratification (3 °C for 90 days in darkness) in distilled water or an aqueous solutions of 500 mM salicylic acid (SA), 10 -3 M jasmonic acid (JA), gibberellin A3 (GA3) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) at 250 mg·dm -3 and 100 mg·dm -3 , respectively. Growth regulators were applied separately or in a mixture containing SA, JA, GA3 and BAP. The germinability and seed germination rate, seedlings growth, chlorophyll content index and the maximum quantum efficiency of Photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were investigated. The obtained results revealed that stratification in water positively affected the dormancy removal in 'Gold Milenium', 'Ligol' and 'Szampion' seeds. Application of SA, GA3, BAP, JA during seed stratification additionally stimulated the seeds' germination rate as well as the growth of seedlings, index of chlorophyll content and maximum PSII efficiency (Fv/Fm). The most pronounced results were obtained after the seed stratification in GA3 alone or in a mixture containing SA, GA3, BAP and JA. Due to such a treatment, the germination of 'Ligol' seeds increased by 40% and they germinated faster in comparison to the control seeds. Such treatments also promoted the growth of seedlings, chlorophyll content and maximum quantum efficiency of Photosystem II (Fv/Fm). The present study indicates that the application of GA3 or the mixture of SA, GA3, BAP and JA during the stratification of seeds is an effective method to increase and accelerate the germination of seeds and juvenile seedlings' growth in order to shorten the apple breeding cycle. Further studies are needed to optimize the appropriate concentration of growth regulators applied simultaneously during seeds stratification.

Effects of various dormancy breaking treatment on seed germination in Sclerorhachis leptoclada boiss: an endangered medicinal plant in arid area

“…Although it has been observed that Moist Chilling inhibits both the percentage and rate of germination in S. leptoclada (PEREZ-GARCIA and GONZALEZ-BENITO, 2006;VELDHUIZEN and KNIGHT, 2006), we found that both Moist Chilling and scarification by 0.2% potassium nitrate can cause a high percentage of germination in the initial days of incubation. Similar results were reported in previous studies for the species of Foeniculum vulgar L. (SOLTANIPOOR et al, 2009), Allyssum homalocarpum (GANJALI and AJORLO, 2014), Teucrium polium (KOOCHAKI and AZIZI, 2005), Stevia rebaudiana (LIOPA-TSAKALIDI et al, 2012), Citrullus colocynthis (SABERI et al, 2011), walnut (QURESHI et al, 2016, Phoenix dactylifera L. (MUHAMMAD et al, 2017), Brassica tournefortii (MAHAJAN et al, 2018), Kiwifruit (ZHANG et al, 2018, Elaeocarpus serratus L. (RAJI and SIRIL, 2018), Rice seed (SHIRATSUCHI et al, 2017), Apple seed (GORNIK et al, 2018), Pistacia khinjuk (ACAR et al, 2017;JIA et al 2020;BI et al 2021) and Sterculia urens Roxb (SUBNASHINI-DEVI et al, 2012;SI et al, 2020;).…”

Impact of seed cold stratification on apricot germination and subsequent seedling growth as well as chemical constituents of seeds during stratification

“…The presented results also show that "Balady Variety (Amar)" and "Hamawy" variety varied in their stratification requirements. In this respect, 29 reported that apple seed germination relied on the varities and also the manner of stratification. Among the examined cultivars, 'Szampion' seeds germinated at the very best share.…”

Chilling-Requirement Release of Seed and Bud Dormancy in Apricot

“…The presented results also show that apricot seedling trees varied in their stratification requirements. In this respect, [45] reported that apple seed germination depended on the cultivar and the manner of stratification. Among the examined cultivars, 'Szampion' seeds germinated at the highest percentage.…”