A Novel Method to Overcome Coat-Imposed Seed Dormancy in Lupinus albus L. and Trifolium pratense L.

Abstract EN

We have developed a novel method to overcome coat-imposed seed dormancy in legume plants.

Seeds of Lupinus albus L.

and Trifolium pratense L.

were stored in a freezer at −80°C for a period of time and then immediately treated with or without hot water at 90°C for 5 seconds.

Germination tests were carried out in darkness at 20±1.0°C with four replications in a completely randomized design.

Final germination percentage (FGP), germination rate, and synchrony of seeds were evaluated.

The results showed that new approach of freeze-thaw scarification provided high percentage of germinations in white lupin (84.16%) and red clover (74.50%) seeds while control seeds had FGPs of 3.3% and 26.0%, respectively.

The immediate thawing of frozen seeds in hot water for 5 seconds was found not only an effective and reliable but also the quickest seed treatment method to prevail against coat-imposed seed dormancy in legume species and may become operationally applicable to other plant species.