Effect of gibberellic acid, germination temperature and stratification on dormancy breaking and seed germination of Smyrnium cordifolium

Seed dormancy in Apiaceae family is one of the major obstacles for cultivation and domestication of these species. In this research, two separate experiments were conducted to determine the best treatment for breaking seed dormancy and improving germination inSmyrniumcordifolium Bioss. In the firstexperiment, effects of three factors including 7 levels of gibberellic acid (0, 500,1000 and 1500 mg L-1) with pre-treatment with gibberellic acid for 48 and 72 hours and 3 levels of stratification (4, 8 and 12 weeks) and different germination temperatures (5, 10 and 15°C) were investigated in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with four replications. In the second experiment, the effect of different levels of gibberellic acid (used in the first experiment)in different levels of stratification (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks) on the α-amylase activity and hydrogen peroxide content were studied. The results showed that in all three temperatures, 12 weeks stratification had the highest effect on most measured traits. Also, in most of the stratification periods, the amount of alpha-amylase activity and hydrogen peroxide content increased in pre-treatment with gibberellic acid. Among all the treatments, the combination of 12 weeks stratification along with 500 ppm gibberellic acid and germination temperature of 5 °C had the highest effect on breaking seeds dormancy of Smyrnium cordifolium Bioss.