Effect Of Growing Media, Seed Sizes And Stratification On Germination And Subsequent Seedling Growth Of Loquat (Eriobotrya Japonica L)

The experiment was conducted in a lathhouse of the department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sulaimani during 2014 growing season. Three growing media, two seed sizes as well as stratification periods {direct or no stratification and moist chilling at 3±10C for two weeks} were used for the purpose of their influences on the germination and subsequent seedling growth of loquat. Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates was used and analysis of variance carried out and then the treatment means were compared according to Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 0.05 level. The data revealed that growing media had a significant effect on most characteristics: peat moss recorded the highest value for germination percentage (67.158%), seedling length (9.478 cm), seedling diameter (0.682 cm) and leaves area (84.366 cm2), while the highest germination percentages resulted were 57.861% and 56.333% for moist chilling for two weeks and small seeds respectively. Small seeds combined with each peatmoss and moist chilling for two weeks gave (77.083 and 62.611)% germination successively as the maximum germination percentages. Finally, combination of small seeds moist chilled for two weeks and grown in peat moss gave the highest germination percentage (90.833%).