MORPHOLOGY, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, AND SEED GERMINATION OF HEDYSARUM POGONOCARPUM BOISS

The present study was conducted to determine the morphological, biochemical, and germination characteristics of seeds of Hedysarum pogonocarpum Boiss., an endemic ornamental herbaceous plant in Turkey. Seeds were collected from three provenances (Kahramanmaras, Adiyaman, and Malatya) and seed length, width, thickness, and weight of 1000 seed were estimated. Seed morphological characters showed significant differences among the provenances. Chemical composition (total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, carotenoids, xanthopyll, soluble protein, tocopherol, soluble phenolics, flavanoids, and oil content) were also examined and seven of the biochemical parameters showed significant differences among the provenances. Germination tests were conducted; seeds were immersed in hot water (50 degrees C and 70 degrees C) for 10, 20, and 30 min and stratified for 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Control seeds did not germinate both stratified (up to 6 weeks) or not. Hot water treatments were effective in breaking the dormancy. Provenances had also effect on the germination percentages. The highest germination rates were obtained from Kahramanmaras provenance at 6 week stratified and soaked seeds at 50 degrees C for 10 min (53.3%) and 20 min (49.3%). Two and four week stratification treatments yielded lower germination rates for the same treatments. Soaking in hot water at a higher temperature (70 degrees C) yielded lower germination rates. According to the results of the study, it might be suggested that the seeds required 6 weeks or longer chilling time at 50 degrees C and not more than 20 min soaking for the dormancy breaking and germination.