Abstract :
This study was carried out to investigate availability of using seaweed extract in osmotic conditioning treatments of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.) seeds. Osmotic conditioning treatments were conducted with the 1:500 seaweed extract solution at 20°C and 15°C in seeds of pepper and onion, respectively, for 1, 2 and 3 days. Osmotic conditioning treatments with seaweed extract increased germination percentage and reduced mean germination time both in pepper and onion seeds. The highest germination ratio of pepper seeds was 94.5% in the 2-day application of cv. Demre Sivri, 92.5% in the 1-day application of cv. Kandil Dolma and 90.5% in the 2-day application of cv. Yalova Çarliston, while germination ratios of control seeds were 86.5, 85 and 85.5%, respectively. The shortest mean germination time of pepper seeds was 5.6 days in the 2-day application of cv. Demre Sivri, 8.3 days in the 2-day application of cv. Kandil Dolma and 6.5 days in the 2-day application of cv. Yalova Çarliston while mean germination times of control seeds were 7.2, 9.7 and 7.6 days, respectively. The highest germination ratio of onion seeds was 97.5% in the 3-day application of cv. TEG-502 and 89% in the 2- and 3-day applications of cv. Contes, while germination ratios of control seeds were 88 and 82.5%, respectively. The shortest mean germination time of onion seeds was 3.5 days in the 3-day application of cv. TEG-502 and 3.2 days in the 3-day application of cv. Contes while mean germination times of control seeds were 5.4 and 5.5 days, respectively. It was concluded that seaweed extract could also be used in osmotic conditioning treatments of onion seeds as well as pepper seeds.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Pepper , onion , seaweed extract , osmotic conditioning , germination ratio , mean germination time
