Determination of some physiological properties of snowdrop seed germination

This research was conducted to find out the effects of controlled and uncontrolled natural conditions on Western Taurus mountain snowdrop seed germination. Beside the chemical analysis of seed coats, some important physiological aspects such as afterripening, dormancy and vernelization were searched in the trials. Field works were set on three different locations where snowdrops are easily cultivated. A group of seeds was taken into the fully automized and computurized greenhouse. Uncontrolled grower type greenhouse of the Agriculture faculty was also used for the same purpose. All the chemical analyses were done in the faculty laboratories. It was clearly found that ecological factors have strong effect on germination. The field trials were kept under natural conditions. The greenhouse conditions were found unsuitable for the snowdrop seed germination. Physiological treatments on afterripening, dormancy and vernelization were not as important as expected. Only GA3 applications had some slide effects. According to the results, more complicated researches are needed to solve the unknowns of snowdrop seed germination. KEY WORDS: Snowdrop, seed, germination, dormancy, afterripening vernelization, scarification, GA3, BAP COMMITEE: Prof. Dr. İbrahim BAKTIR Prof. Dr. Lami KAYNAK Assistant Prof. Mustafa AKILLI n