The effect of different treatments on seed germination of lovage (Levisticum officinale KOCH)

2011 Accepted:AugustLovage (Levisticum officinale KOCH) is a perennial, herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae family and its different parts are used in perfumes, beverage, foods and drugs industries. Seeds of Lovage have been restricted in germination. An experiment was carried out to promote germination of lovage at laboratory of horticultural science of Tarbiat Modares University in summer 2007 under Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Treatments were included: cold (4° C for 3 weeks), combination of cold treatment with gibberellins (150 ppm), freezing (-20 °C for 3 weeks), combination of freezing with gibberellins, potassium nitrate (0.2%), gibberellins (150 ppm), combination of gibberellins with potassium nitrate and distilled water as control. Results showed that there are significant difference between treatments and cold treatment for 3 weeks was the best treatment both germination rate and germination percentage. Whereas freezing decreased germination percentage. Also potassium nitrate promoted germination but there was no significant difference with control.