THE EFFECTS OF SCARIFICATION, STRATIFICATION AND GA₃ TREATMENTS ON THE GERMINATION OF SEEDS AND SEEDLING GROWTH IN SELECTED P. KHINJUK TYPES

In this research, seeds from seven P. khinjuk types were selected from the Sanliurfa, Icel and Siirt provinces of Turkey. After testing the viability and germination percentages, the seeds of the selected P. khinjuk types were first scarified with H₂SO₄ and then sown directly, or sown after treatment with GA₃, or sown after stratification. Seedling growth and development, stem height and stem diameter were measured at 15 day intervals during the growth period. There were no significant differences among the selections in the viability of the seeds. Seed germination rate under the three treatments ranged between 40% (B-33S2) and 96% (B-56A1). The highest germination rates were in the stratification treatment whereas the lowest germination rates were in the directly sown treatment. The highest stem diameter was obtained in the B-56A1 type in the stratification treatment. Since the stratification treatment gave the best results, it was assumed that GA₃ application could substitute for stratification. B-56A1 and B-5602 were found to have the highest germination and growth rates.