Effect of Breaking Dormancy Treatments on Germination of Ferula assa-foetida L. Seed

Asafetida (Ferula assa- foetida L.) is an important medicinal plant belongs to Apiaceae family, which has long dormancy. In this research, vernalization, washing time, GA3, medium strength, harvesting time and interaction of these treatments has been studied to optimize condition of germination. Results showed that, vernalization in 4-5°C for two weeks increased 50% of germination compared with control. Maximum and minimum germination was 42% and 20.47% in 6 and 2 hours washing, respectively. Germination of Ferula was increased (41.5%) by using 10 mg/l of GA3 in comparing with control and 25% germination resulted by using half strength MS media. Moreover, mean of germination has been increased by applying these treatments in one years seeds in comparison with fresh ones (61% and 36% respectively). By doing factorial experiments in the CRD, the best-combined treatments could increase germination were combination of vernalization (4-5°C for two weeks), half strength MS media, GA3 (10 mg/l) and washing time (6h).