Investigation on effects of temperature, light and storage treatments on germination of three provenances of Ulmus glabra

This study evaluated the effect of temperature, light and storage treatments on seed germination of three provenances of Ulmus glabra at Mazandaran province of Iran. For this reason, after collecting the seeds from three origins and determining their viability and moisture content, the initial seed germination percentage under temperature and light treatments were studied. Temperature treatments including 20, 25 ºC and 30/20 ºC (8 hours at 30 ºC and 16 hours at 20 ºC) and light treatments including eight hours of light and 24 hours of dark. Also, after seed storage for one year in -4ºC, germination behaviors at the light and temperature treatments were investigated. The results of this study showed that temperature had significant effect on primary germination percentage of Ulmus glabra seeds and in the three provenances. The initial seed germination percentage was the highest at 30/20 ºC in the light and the dark treatments. After one year seed storage, its light demand increased and the highest percentage of seed germination was observed at 30/20 ºC and eight hour light period. There was significant difference between the seed origins in terms of seed germination. Seed germination percentage was the highest in Lajim than the two other provenances.