Study the application of chitosan on germination characteristics of two dragonhead varieties (Dracocephalum moldavica L.)

To study the effects of chitosan at 0. 5 (C1)، 0. 1 (C2)، 0. 05 (C3) and 0. 01 (C4) (weight percent) concentrations، distilled water (C5) and one percent acetic acid (C6) as controls on physiological and morphological characteristics of two landrace and modified (SZK-1) dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) varieties، a factorial experiment was conducted in completely randomized design in germinator of the Agronomy Department، Tarbiat Modares University. Results showed that، the interactions of treatments had significant effects on radicle length، plumule dry weigh، protein content and SOD activity. C2V2 and C6V1 produced the highest and the lowest of radicle length with 1. 52 mm difference respectively. Also C2 increased the protein content of landrace variety in compare to C5. High concentrations of chitosan (C1 and C2) increased the SOD activity of modified variety compare to C5. Therefore chitosan can increase some germination characteristics of dragonhead varieties and improved bred varieties showed a better response to this organic compound.