Seed Germination Induction and Response of Seedling Growth of Primrose (Primula vulgaris) to Different Treatments of Mechanical Scarification and Chemical Pre-treatment

In order to seed germination induction and response of seedling growth of Primula vulgaris to different treatments of mechanical scarification and chemical pre-treatment, an experiment was carried out in completely randomized design with treatments of control, seed scarification (for 3 minute), warm water 70 and 90˚C, priming with potasium nitrate at the rate of 2 and 4%, gibberellic acid at the concentration of 250 and 500 mg/L with three replicates in 2013. The results showed that treatments of seed scarification, warm water 70 and 90˚C and gibberellic acid of 250 and 500 mg/L increased the seedling emergence percentage compared to the control. The maximum of the daily emergence percentage recorded from gibberellic acid of 250 mg/L. Seed treatment with potasium nitrate of 2 and 4% decreased the mean emergence time by 61.2 and 51.7% compared with the control, respectively. The highest emergence rate coefficient equal to 0.094 and 0.092 was achieved from seed treatment with potasium nitrate of 2 and 4% .The maximum seedling length (5.53 cm), seedling dry weight (0.029 g), seedling vigor weight index (1.15) was obtained at gibberellic acid of 250 mg/L treatment. Treatments of seed scarification, warm water 70 and 90˚C, gibberellic acid at the concentration of 250 and 500 mg/L increased seedling vigor weight index compared to the control, significantly. In general, seed pre-treatment of Primula vulgaris with gibberellic acid of 250 mg/L was improved germination and seedling growth indices.