Effect of chilling time and gibberellic acid treatments on germination thermal parameters of Eryngium caeruleum

Recognition of Eryngium caeruleum germination biology can provide the possibility of forecasting the seed dormancy and germination level in various conditions. This study was conducted as factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications in the laboratory of Agronomy and Plant Breeding Department, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, to understand Eryngium caeruleum seed dormancy and response of germination thermal parameters. The experimental factors were included three levels of gibberellic acid (0, 250, 500 mg/l), six chilling time (1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30 days) and seven temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35°c). Germination parameters were obtained by the segmented model under the influence of gibberellic acid and chilling treatments. The results of this study showed that, the best treatment for reducing dormancy level, cardinal temperatures for germination including base, optimum and ceiling temperatures was obtained 1.81, 22.31, and 34.10°c respectively. Increasing of the chilling time and the gibberellic acid concentration from 0 to 250 mg/l, decreased the base temperature, and increased optimum temperature. Ceiling temperature, at first was increased and then decreased.