The Effect of Thermal Shock, Burial Depth and Seed Position on Germination of eeds of Heteromorphism Hedge Parsley (Torilis arvenis)

Weeds are one of the most important factors that affect and reduce the yield of crops. Hedge parsley produces two shapes of seeds, fluffy and non-fluffy, of their germination behavior little information is available. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of seed position, burial depth, thermal shock and seed polymorphism on germination percentage of hedge parsley.

The experiments were conducted based on factorial experiment in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications at campus of agriculture and natural resources during years 2016-2017. In the first experiment, the factors included seed position (high, middle and low plants), temperature (20 and 25 C°) and seed shape (fluffy and non-fluffy). In the second experiment, the factors were thermal shock (100, 150 and 200 C°), burial depth (0, 2 and 4 cm) and seed shape (fluffy and non-fluffy).

In the first experiment, with increasing temperature from 20 to 25 C° germination percentage decreased and at 20 C° the highest germination percentage (73.33%) was observed. Seed shape also affected seed germination percentages. In the second experiment, the burial depth had a positive effect on seed germination and with increasing burial depth, seed germination percentage increased. Interaction of thermal shock and burial depth showed that increasing burial depth and temperature increased the percentage of germination (57.14%). In both shapes of seeds, germination percentage increased with increasing burial depth and the highest germination percentage was observed in the maximum burial depth (4 cm).

The results of this study showed that this weed is capable of germination in a wide range of environmental conditions. Germination percentage of hedge parsley increased with increasing burial depth. The optimum temperature for seed germination of hedge parsley is 20 C°. Seed shape was affected on seed germination percentage of hedge parsley.