Germination Responses to GA3 and Stratification of Threatened Festuca L. Species from Eastern Mediterranean

Abstract

The seed germination characteristics of three threatened Festuca sp. [F punctoria Sm., F. cyllenica Boiss. et Heldr. subsp. uluana Markgr.-Dannenb., F paphlagonica (St.-Yves) Markgr.-Dannenb. subsp. paphlagonica] were investigated. These species are endemic and spread on alpine belt. The study was carried out with wet-cold and dry-cold stratification throughout 15 days, different doses of GA3 (50, 100 and 150 ppm) and hormone-stratification combined treatments, and non-treatment series. We found that the germination rates of three fescue seeds for various treatment series were different. The mean germination percentage of F. cyllenica was higher (80%) than that of F. punctoria and F. paphlagonica which were fairly low (50-60%). Germination rates increased by wet-stratification treatment in F punctoria and also increased with 100 ppm GA3 application to the seeds of F. paphlagonica. When taken into consideration the germination percentages of all fescue species, the seeds of F. punctoria and F. paphlagonica can be dormant, but the seeds of F. cyllenica are non-dormant. © 1946–2014, Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung. All rights reserved.