STUDY ON DORMANCY AND GERMINATION OF IRANIAN VACCINIUM (VACCINIUM ARCTOSTAPHYLOS L.) SEED

Iranian Vaccinium or Qare-Qat (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) belongs to Ericaceae and produces abundant seeded berries. Seed morphology and micrographs of seed surface and shape prepared using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were studied in this experiment. To evaluate the Qare-Qat seed dormancy and to assess the best conditions for seed germination, the experiment was carried out using factorial design with three factors in three replications in RCBD. The seeds of ripened fruits were not similar size and they could be seen from minute to tiny size. Electron micrographs showed that Qare-Qat seeds are ovate or elliptical. Germination conditions test showed that seeds after termination of dormancy period could only germinate under light and darkness alternation and they could not germinate in absolute darkness. Therefore, Qare-Qat seeds had positive photoblastic reaction. Seed dormancy testing revealed that chilling of dry seeds for 15 to 90 d could remove Qare-Qat seed dormancy, even though the best result was obtained with 90-day dry chilling.