Treatments improving seeds germination of two Mediterranean sclerophyll species Ceratonia siliqua and Pistacia lentiscus.

Abstract

Seeds of Ceratonia siliqua and Pistacia lentiscus are characterized by a hard seed coat physical dormancy. Several dormancy-breaking treatments were applied for improving their germination. Acid scarification was tried for the seeds of both species as well as hot water soaking for Ceratonia siliqua and mechanical scarification for Pistacia lentiscus seeds. Treatments improved the germination percentages of the seeds in both species. In Ceratonia siliqua seeds acid scarification treatment significantly increased the germination percentage (86.7%) and reduced the mean time to complete germination (MTG). For the same species hot water soaking was less effective even though it improved the germination percentage. The treatment application in Pistacia lentiscus seeds slightly affected the amount and speed of germination in relation to control; the best results gave the acid scarification for 10 minutes exhibited a mean germination percentage 78.9% and MTG 8,34 days.