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Effects of pretreatments on seed dormancy and germination in endemic Uludağ flax (Linum olympicum Boiss.) (Linaceae)

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Abstract

Linum olympicum Boiss. (Linaceae) is an endemic species to Turkey, and has both medicinal and ornamental properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of GA3 and cold stratification (1 or 4 months) on the germination and mean germination time in relation to breaking dormancy in this species under darkness (20 °C) and light (20/10 °C, 12/12 h) conditions. Seeds were collected from specimens that spread on limestone or granite screes, ledges of rocky or turfy slopes, and hilltops of the alpine belt from Uludağ Mt. (Bursa, Turkey, 2200–2300 m). We show that a combination of hormone and cold stratification treatments promoted seed germination under darkness and light conditions. Non-stratified seeds germinated to 73% following 1000 mg L−1 GA3 treatment and also it was 83% after 1 month cold stratification. After 4 months of cold stratification treatment, 10% and 53.3% of seeds successfully germinated after incubation in light and dark conditions, respectively. Hormone and cold stratification treatments also reduced mean germination time. Our results revealed that seeds of L. olympicum have physiological dormancy and require prolonged time for cold stratification and darkness for germination, rather than responding to the photoperiod. Germination requirements of L. olympicum have not been studied previously, and the data obtained could be used for the ex situ protection of this alpine species.

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Acknowledgements

This study was part of a research project funded by the Turkish Scientific and Research Council (No: 107T494). The linguistic check of paper was made by İlker İŞERİ, an expert on Curriculum and English Instruction. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their evaluation of manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programme of Horticulture, Gemlik Asım Kocabıyık Graduate Vocational School, Bursa Uludağ University, Gemlik, Turkey

    Serap Kırmızı

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Bursa Uludağ University, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey

    Gürcan Güleryüz & Hülya Arslan

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  1. Serap Kırmızı
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  2. Gürcan Güleryüz
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  3. Hülya Arslan
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Correspondence to Serap Kırmızı.

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Kırmızı, S., Güleryüz, G. & Arslan, H. Effects of pretreatments on seed dormancy and germination in endemic Uludağ flax (Linum olympicum Boiss.) (Linaceae). Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol. 59, 629–635 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-018-0075-2

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