Quantifying the germination reaction of different Basil masses to temperature

In order to examine the germination response of basil medicinal plant’s seeds (Ocimum basilicum L.) to temperature and determination of cardinal temperatures for germination percentage and rate, a compound decomposition experiment was performed through a fully random design with four reptile and six thermal levels (8, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 degree centigrade) in seed technology laboratory of Abou-Reyhan campus in Univerity of Tehran. In this study, 22 Basil masses were evaluated including “Tehran”, Green Shahr-e-Rey”, “Green Birjand”, “Purple Birjand”, “Green Shiraz”, “Green Zabol”, “Zahedan”, “Green Zahedan”, “Kermanshah”, “Green Pishva”, “Purple Pishva”, “Green Malayer”, “Khash”, “Local green Tonekabon”, “Green Isfahan II”, “Purple Isfahan II”, “Green Isfahan III”, “Green Isfahan IV”, “Green Mash’had”, “American green Napolta”, “Italian Genovese”, and “Switzerland” . Based on the results of variance analysis, temperature impact, genotype, and their interaction on germination percent and germination rate was significant at the 5% level. Optimal range of temperature for germination percent and germination rate was obtained as 19.10-27.78 and 20.32-29.89 degrees centigrade, respectively. In most masses, the highest germination rate was observed at 25 degrees centigrade. Among all evaluated masses in current research, Isfahan III was appropriated the highest germination rate in all temperatures. The results of experiment showed that the response of germination percentage and germination rate to temperature was well described through Beta function and segmented function, respectively, and cardinal temperatures can be determined for Basil using these two models.