Vital Reactions of Wild Pistachio Seeds (Pistacia atlantica) to Seed Priming, Scarification and Chemical Treatments

Propagation of P. atlantica is through seed culture, however, the mechanical and physiological dormancy decrease germination parameters of seeds in this species. In this study, the seeds of Pistacia atlantica were collected at normal fully mature from mountain regions of Dehloran city in the late summer of 1393. The skins of seeds removed and the seeds were disinfected in sodium hypochlorite solution (1% of active chlorine) for 15 to 20 minutes and then were rinsed three times with sterile water. An experiment was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications. Four factors were evaluated in this experiment, including, scarification (control and sulphuric acid (H2SO4) for 10 minutes), stratification (control, moist chilling in °c and dry chilling -20 °c), potassium nitrate (0, 1% and 2% KNO3) and gibberellic acid (0 and 200 ppm GA3). Primary evaluation of vital indicator in seed such as germination and shoot length of plantlets showed the effective role of seed scarification by H2So4 beside of moist chilling in °c and treatment by 200 ppm GA3. Results indicated the presence of mechanical barrier with physiologic dormancy of embryo that prevents germination of seeds. Applied treatments had significant effects on improvement of seed germination and better growth of seedlings. Also, seed priming with gibberellic acid had positive effect on the primary growth of seedlings.