Acta Univ Latv (2007) 723: 115–122

Interacting influence of cold stratification treatment and osmotic potential on seed germination of Triglochin maritima L.

Abstract

The effect of cold stratification treatment and isoosmotic NaCl and polyethyleneglycol (PEG) concentrations on germination of Triglochin maritima seeds was assessed. The highest (400 mM) NaCl concentration caused a significant decrease in germination percentage and no germination was observed at the two highest (64 and 128 mM) PEG concentrations. The large difference in germination among experiment replications suggests that time of collection and length of storage may have influenced germination. Stratification treatment had a significant positive effect on seed germination and there was a significant interaction between PEG, but not NaCl, concentration and duration of cold stratification during germination. Further research is required to determine the importance of the degree of seed ripeness as well as the possible effect of after-ripening or induction of secondary dormancy of undispersed seeds on seed germination.