Determination of some biological characteristics of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seeds and allelopathic effects of plant extracts on seed germination

This study was carried out to break dormancy in white mustard seeds (Sinapis alba L.) collected from Şanlıurfa and Hatay provinces, to determine their minimum, optimum and maximum germination temperatures and to determine the allelopathy effects of plant essential oils and extracts on the germination of these seeds. According to the laboratory studies, the minimum, optimum and maximum germination temperatures of Sinapis alba seeds collected from the provinces of Hatay and Şanlıurfa in 2019 were determined as 2 °C, 15-20 °C and 35 °C for Hatay samples; 2 °C, 20 °C and 35 °C for Şanlıurfa samples, respectively. The most effective treatment in the studies for dormancy breaking was obtained by holding seeds in H2SO4 for 15 seconds and sanding for 1 minute. However, the effect of soaking seeds in hot/cold water was low for dormancy breaking. The allelopathic effects of plant extracts from Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Inula viscosa L., Inula graveolens L., Datura stramonium L., Phoenix dactylifera L. and Washingtonia filifera on the germination of white mustard seeds were also investigated. As the application concentration of the plant extracts increased, the germination rate of S. alba seeds decreased. In addition, Origanum onites L., Origanum vulgare L., Origanum syriacum L., Origanum majorana L., Origanum minutiflorum O. Schwarz and P.H. Davis, Salvia officinalis L., Salvia fruticosa L., Salvia tomentosa Miller, Salvia palaestina Bentham, Lavandula officinalis L, Lavandula angustifolia Miller, Rosmarinus officinalis L, Micromeria fruticosa L. essential oils in different doses affected the germination of the seeds of S. alba in different rates. As the application concentration of essential oils increased, the germination amount of S. alba seeds decreased in all treatments.