Articles
Seed germination characteristics and dormancy of an ornamental plant Prunella vulgaris L. subsp. asiatica (Nakai) H. Hara
Article number
1467_19
Pages
161 – 172
Language
English
Abstract
Prunella vulgaris L. subsp. asiatica (Nakai) H. Hara, which grows in sunny grasslands, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to East Asia and is used as an ornamental or medicinal plant.
However, it is classified as a species of least concern on the Korean National Red List.
In this study, we aimed to develop a seed propagation protocol.
Seeds of P. vulgaris subsp. asiatica were obtained from the National Institute of Biological Resources.
Seed morphology revealed a fully-developed embryo, and water imbibition tests showed a water absorption percentage exceeding 400% after 3 h, which indicates the absence of physical or morphological dormancy.
Seeds were incubated at four temperature regimes (4/4, 15/6, 20/10, or 25/15°C) under light or dark conditions.
The final germination percentage was significantly higher at 25/15°C than at the other temperature regimes under both light and dark conditions.
However, little or no germination was observed when the seeds were incubated at 4/4 and15/6°C under light or dark conditions for 6 weeks.
To evaluate dormancy-breaking responses, cold stratification (4°C) with 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks and gibberellic acid (GA3) treatments at 0, 10, 100, or 1,000 mg L‑1 were applied.
After 12 weeks, the germination time was significantly shorter at both incubation temperatures (15/6°C and 25/15°C) as compared to 0 and 4 weeks of stratification.
In addition, when incubated at 15/6°C after 12 weeks of cold stratification, the final germination percentage reached 83%, which was significantly higher than that of 0, 4, and 8 weeks.
After treatment with 1,000 mg L‑1 GA3, the germination percentage was significantly increased than that of the control at 15/6°C, but not significantly different from that at 25/15°C. We conclude that seeds of P. vulgaris subsp. asiatica are physiologically dormant at maturity and the dormancy can be disrupted through treatment of low-temperature and/or GA.
However, it is classified as a species of least concern on the Korean National Red List.
In this study, we aimed to develop a seed propagation protocol.
Seeds of P. vulgaris subsp. asiatica were obtained from the National Institute of Biological Resources.
Seed morphology revealed a fully-developed embryo, and water imbibition tests showed a water absorption percentage exceeding 400% after 3 h, which indicates the absence of physical or morphological dormancy.
Seeds were incubated at four temperature regimes (4/4, 15/6, 20/10, or 25/15°C) under light or dark conditions.
The final germination percentage was significantly higher at 25/15°C than at the other temperature regimes under both light and dark conditions.
However, little or no germination was observed when the seeds were incubated at 4/4 and15/6°C under light or dark conditions for 6 weeks.
To evaluate dormancy-breaking responses, cold stratification (4°C) with 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks and gibberellic acid (GA3) treatments at 0, 10, 100, or 1,000 mg L‑1 were applied.
After 12 weeks, the germination time was significantly shorter at both incubation temperatures (15/6°C and 25/15°C) as compared to 0 and 4 weeks of stratification.
In addition, when incubated at 15/6°C after 12 weeks of cold stratification, the final germination percentage reached 83%, which was significantly higher than that of 0, 4, and 8 weeks.
After treatment with 1,000 mg L‑1 GA3, the germination percentage was significantly increased than that of the control at 15/6°C, but not significantly different from that at 25/15°C. We conclude that seeds of P. vulgaris subsp. asiatica are physiologically dormant at maturity and the dormancy can be disrupted through treatment of low-temperature and/or GA.
Authors
Y.H. Son, G.-H. Nam, J.E. Park, S.Y. Lee
Keywords
gibberellic acid, Lamiaceae, ornamental plant, physiological dormancy, seed propagation
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