Studying the seed germination traits of Seabuckthorn (Elaeagnus rhamnoides) of Iran, China and Tibet

This study was conducted for the first time in order to introduce the pioneer forest trees and medicinal sea-buckthorn (Elaeagnus rhamnoides) and determine the characteristics of the species seeds from seven provenances, including Iran, China and Tibet in the laboratory. After site identification of the species, seeds were collected from the regions including Alborz, Mazandaran, Eastern Azerbaijan, Western Azerbaijan, Qazvin, China and Tibet. The disinfected petri dishes were then placed into a germinator. The seeds were planted as completely randomized design in four replicates each with 25 seeds. At the end of seed growth periods, the traits including germination percentage, number of grown seeds, mean of germination time, germination rate, germination energy, seed vigor index, sum of plumule length, sum of radicle length, mean of plumule length, mean of radicle length, allometry, plumule number, radicles number and the ratio of radicles to plumule number were measured and/ or calculated. Averages of germination percentage were 90, 48, 95, 36, 33, 32 and 60 for Alborz, Mazandaran, Eastern Azerbaijan, Western Azerbaijan, Qazvin, China and Tibet, respectively. The maximum and minimum germination percentages were observed for Eastern Azerbaijan and China provenances, respectively. These indices were 54.1 and 20.6 for Eastern Azerbaijan and China, respectively. Allometry which is the ratio of the radicle length to the plumule length was maximum in Mazandaran with 2.4 and Qazvin with 0.95. This study showed that Seabuckthorn propagation by seeds is feasible and recommendable. Further researches are recommended on this valuable species due to its drought tolerance, nitrogen fixing ability and unique medicinal properties.