| Abstrakt: |
The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological characteristics of Retama sphaerocarpa seeds, to assess the relationship between seed coat color and germination quality in order to select seeds with the best germination qualities. Chemical scarification for different durations, mechanical scarification, soaking of seeds in water, soaking of seeds in gibberellic acid (10−3 M) were used as presowing treatments to improve germination. For all tests, we evaluated the germination rate and the mean germination time. The results showed that there was significant heterogeneity in seed morphology and color in the study population, with yellowish and greenish seeds behaving differently from the blackish ones. The best germination percentages were recorded by yellowish seeds scarified by pure sulfuric acid (96%) for 1 h, 1h30, 2 h, 2h30 and 3 h, the later leading to a maximum germination rate of 100% (P ˂ 0.05), as well as by greenish seeds treated for 2h30, 3 h and 4 h, with 2h30 also leading to a maximum rate of 100% P ˂ 0.05. Similarly, hot water significantly increased the germination percentage of yellowish and greenish seeds. On the contrary, mechanical scarification by sandpaper and application of gibberellic acid solution did not significantly increase the germination percentages. The germination percentage of blackish seeds remained almost zero regardless of the treatment type. The results of this work provided new information for the reproductive biology of Retama sphaerocarpa especially the germinative behavior of seeds according to their color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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