Effect of seed aging on safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed vigor and germination parameters

ABSTRACT: To investigate the effects of safflower seed vigor on germination indexes an experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with 4 replications. Experimental treatments consist of making 3 levels of vigor with rapid aging test (control, 80 and 90 percent of germination). Results showed that different aging levels affected all germination indexes (germination percent, normal seedling percent, means of germination time, coefficient of velocity of germination, daily germination time and means of daily germination) significantly. Increasing aging time decreased germination percent, normal seedling percent, coefficient of velocity of germination and means of daily germination statistically, as control treatment had highest and passing 6 days of deterioration (80 germination percent) had the lowest values for these traits.