Study on germination of some perennial herbaceous Astragalus

To investigate the germination of perennial herbaceous Astragalus, six species in different accessions were selected to be studied in a randomized complete block design in which three treatments including control, scarification and chilling were applied for one week with three replications. The study was carried out in the laboratory of Gene Bank at RIFR. Germination percentage, germination rate, plumule and radicle lengths, vigor index and ratio of radicle to plumule length were measured. All data were analyzed and the studied species showed significant differences in terms of the mentioned germination parameters except radicle length and ratio of radicle to plumule while differences among treatments were significant for all traits except radicle length. Interaction effects of species*treatment were also significant except radicle length and vigor index. Maximum and minimum values of germination traits were recorded for A. vegetus and A. lilacinus, respectively and other species were classified as average. The values of germination traits in chilling treatment were less than that in control treatment and it can be concluded that the cultivation of these species in autumn and winter may cause unsuccessful establishment. According to the results, A. vegetus was identified as a suitable species for range improvement in terms of most germination traits.