Effects of stratification length time on germination of chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana Wall.)

This study was carried out to identify the best required time for stratification along with the optimum time and generation power test of seeds. The treatments include 22 different periods of stratification from 10 to 32 days. The experiment was done as completely random design blocks with four replicate with 30 seeds within each block. The Ending time of stratification period was the same for all treatments. The percentage of rotten seeds, seed germination and rootlet length were measured, and then the obtained data were analyzed statistically. The results indicated that Chilgoza seeds incubated in temperature of 4°C for 33 days could germinate 38%. While the seeds with less than 16 days has no germination power. In general, this study suggests the period of 23-30 days as the best time for stratifying Chilgoza seeds.