Effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) and temperature on seed germination of Capparis spinosa L.

Seed germination of Capparis spinosa L. is highly important for ecology, medicine, and economics. The present study aimed to determine the effects of six pretreatments and two temperature regimes, T₁: 9/35.7°C (Laboratory) and T2: 1/43°C (Greenhouse), on Capparis spinosa L. seeds' germination rate and latency time. Different pretreatments were tested, including scarification (P₁) and seed imbibition in water (P₂ and P3) and gibberellic acid (GA3) (P₄, P₅ and P₆). The results showed that the highest germination rate (68.33%) was observed in the laboratory for the control seeds (T₁, P0), followed by (58,33%) for seeds soaked in water for 48 hours (T₁ P3),(56,67%) for seeds soaked in 200 ppm of GA3 (T₁, P4),(53,33%)for seeds soaked in 400 ppm and 600 ppm of GA3 (T₁, P5andT₁, P6), (48,33%)for seeds soaked in water for 24 hours (T₁ P₂), and (51,43%) for the control seeds in greenhouse (T₂, P0), whereas the lowest germination rate (12.86%) was recorded in the greenhouse temperature, which was detrimental to seed germination, for seeds soaked in 600 ppm of GA3 (T₂, P₆). Germination latency times were shorter after soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours. Finally, seed germination of C. spinosa is subjected to several factors that may influence the total percentage of germination and latency time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]