Studies on seed germination of endemic Papaver pilosum Sibth. & Sm subsp pilosum (Papaveraceae) species

Besides being distributed in Uludağ and Cankiri, endemic Papaver pilosum Sibth. & Sm subsp pilosum (Papaveraceae) also contains important medical and aromatic substance. In this study, effects of wet cold stratification (2 and 4 months), dry storage (6, 12, 24 months), hormone treatment (150, 250, 500 ppm GA3), various temperature regimes (20/10, 25/10, 20 0C) and light conditions (light/ darkness) on germination of Papaver pilosum seeds which were collected in Uludağ alpin zone. Data obtained from the study showed that seeds were not dormant, the favourable germination temperature for the speies is 20/10 0C and there is no light requirement for the seed germination. In the study, it is observed that GA3 has no effect on germination of P. pilosum seeds. There is no previous research on germination requirements of P. pilosum. Data obtained from this study provides information about the seed germination physiology of the species, that can be used in the ex-situ protection of the species.