Effects of cold-stratification, gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate on seed germination of yellow gentian (<i>Gentiana lutea</i> L.)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to show the effect of cold-stratification, gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate on seed germination of yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea L.). The seeds of natural yellow gentian populations of the Albanian Alps (Kosovo) were collected in September 2010. Seeds placed in filter paper (plastic bag) and in mixture of sand-soil were cold-stratified (2±1°C) for 72 days. The effect of different concentrations of gibberellic acid (250, 500 and 1000 ppm GA3) and potassium nitrate (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% KNO₃) in final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT) and germination index (GI) in non-stratified and stratified seeds were examined. Seeds stratified in filter paper and treated with 1000 ppm GA3 and 0.1% KNO₃ showed significantly higher percentage of germination (FGP and GI), while seeds stratified in mixture of sand-soil showed the highest values of FGP and GI in treatments with 500 ppm GA₃ and different concentrations of KNO₃. The cold-stratification and GA₃ treatments of yellow gentian seeds are suitable for the higher percentage of germinations.

Key words: Gentiana lutea L., cold-stratification, seeds, germination, gibberellic acid (GA₃), potassium nitrate (KNO₃).