Investigating the effect of seed dormancy breaking treatments on the germination and seedling growth of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff

Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. is one of the rangeland and medicinal plants native of Iran which is in danger of extinction. The present experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with four replications in an attempt to investigate the effect of dormancy-breaking treatments on the germination and seedling growth of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. The treatments included: seed stratification (4°C for 2, 4, 8 and 10 weeks), gibberellic acid (250,500 and 1000 ppm solution), and the combination of seed stratification and gibberellic acid (500 ppm +4°C for 2, 4, 8 and 10 weeks). The results indicated that there was a significant difference between seed dormancy breaking treatments (P<0.01). The highest germination percentage was respectively obtained from 10- and 8-week treatments under 500 ppm + 4°C (86 and 88%). It was observed that the highest root (32mm) and shoot (24mm) length belonged to the 10-week treatment under 500 ppm +4°C.