The effect of different chemical and physical treatments on the seed germination of Crataegus pontica C. Koch

This study aimed to select the most suitable chemical and physical treatment for germination and breaking seed dormancy of Crataegus pontica. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized with 5 replications and 12 treatments in laboratory conditions. In this study, each replication involved 30 seeds. Treatments were hot water - sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid for 15 and 20 minutes, gibberellic acid for 24 and 48 hours, scarification, chilling wet seeds (-20 °C for for 2 weeks), freezing seeds in water (-20 °C for for 2 weeks), nitric acid for 20 and 25 minutes, hot water and cold water and control. In this study, characteristics such as germination rate, germination value, speed of germination and Kotowski's coefficient of velocity, germination vigour, mean daily germination and mean germination time were measured. According to the ANOVA, significant differences were detected between treatments in term of mean germination time, Kotowski coefficient of velocity, speed of germination, mean daily germination, germination rate and germination vigour. The highest amount of germination rate, germination value, speed of germination, germination vigour, mean daily germination and mean germination time was related to hot water - sulfuric acid treatment while the lowest one was related to control treatment.