The effect of dormancy breaking treatments on weed seeds

THE EFFECT OF DORMANCY BREAKING TREATMENTS ON WEED SEEDS Betül Akın Department of Biology, M.S. Thesis, 2004 Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ismail KOCAÇALIŞKAN SUMMARY In this study, the effects of dormancy breaking treatments on both seed germination and seedling growth of the seeds belongs to eight weed species were investigated. Germination and growth of the seeds were provided in Petri dishes under the controlled conditions of "16 hours light (20 000 Lux)/ 25 °C/ 70 % humidity and 8 hours dark/ 18 °C/ 70 % humidity" in a plant growth cabinet. As conclusion; no treatment used for breaking dormancy of the seeds of Adonis flammea, Comolida ohentalis and Coriandrum sativum species were effective. However some treatments have been found to be successed in breaking dormancy of other species {Sinapis arvensis, Papaver rhoeas, Cirsium arvense, Centaurea triumfetii, Galium spurium), and thus their germination and growth were provided in certain ratios. The most effective treatments in dormancy breaking of the weed seeds were found to be distilled water and gibberellic acid applications on the seeds dehulled seed coat. Key words: Germination, dormancy, seedling growth, gibberellic acid, weeds.