Seed Germination and Dormancy Breaking Techniques for (Echinacea purpurea L. Moench)

Abstract

Echinacea purpurea (Asteraceae) is an important medicinal plant known as a disinfectant.<br><br>Its germination percentage and germination rate is generally low due to<br><br>dormancy. Dormancy and germination requirements were investigated in this plant.<br><br>Seeds of Echinacea purpurea were subjected to different treatments including various<br><br>levels of GA3 (100, 200 and 300 ppm) and KNO3 (0.5, 1 and 1.5 percentage) for 2<br><br>hours and prechilling (50 °C) for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. The germination percentage<br><br>and germination rate significantly increased in all of treatments. The highest germination<br><br>and germination rate were obtained in prechilling treatment that induced over<br><br>90% germination. The mean germination time also improved in all of treatments and<br><br>shortest mean germination time also was observed in prechilling treatment.