Embryo culture to overcome seed dormancy and produce seedling in Ferulago angulata (Schlecht.) Boiss.

Ferulago angulata as a medicinal plant belongs to the Apiaceae family, and propagated by seed. But, seed dormancy is a main limiting factor in its propagation. To evaluate the efficiency of in vitro culture as well as the combination of culture medium and explant type on breaking seeds dormancy of Ferulago angulata, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with five replications. The treatments consisted of four ecotypes (Abenahr, Gauonhe, Vezg, Sisakht) from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, Iran and three concentrations of Murashige and Skoog basal medium (1/4, 1/2 and 1MS) and explant type (seed or embryo). Collected seeds were surface sterilized and then were planted as intact seeds, and isolated embryos in the above mentioned media. In this experiment, isolated embryos germinated after 3 to 6 days, depending on the ecotype. However, no germination was observed in the intact seeds in the used media. The results of embryo culture showed that culture medium and ecotype significantly affected all measured seedling traits. Mean comparison indicated that there were significant differences between different media and 1/4MS medium was superior to the other two culture media in terms of embryo germination percentage and seedling growth. There also were significant differences between different ecotypes, and Gauonhe ecotype showed higher embryo germination percentage and seedling growth than other ecotypes. So, in vitro culture of Ferulago angulata seed embryos on 1/4MS medium provides an effective method to overcome seed dormancy. Seedlings resulting from germination and embryo growth were successfully transferred to pots and placed in natural environment. According to the results of this study, germination inhibitors in F. angulata are located in the tissues surrounding the embryo and the embryo would not be able to germinate until the inhibitory factors are removed. Therefore, isolation and in vitro culture of the embryo provides a suitable approach to overcome seed dormancy in this plant, especially for laboratory studies.