Effects of treatments of gibberellic acid, citric acid and stratification on germination of seeds of Salvia siirtica Kahraman, Celep & Doğan sp. nov. (Lamiaceae)

Abstract

Salvia siirtica Kahraman, Celep & Doğan sp. nov. (Lamiaceae) have been recently reported as a new species from southeaster Turkey. It is currently grown in remote areas, where locally adapted and sparsely populated. The study will be of paramount importance for understanding of germination behavior in Salvia siirtica, possibly due to encouraging its propagation, but not being endangered. For this reason, conducted a study, consisting of a set of germination tests, under the tissue culture laboratory. In this study, Salvia siirtica seeds were treated with gibberellic acid (24 h and 48 h in GA3 of 250 mg l-1), citric acid (5 and 10 min in its solution of 4 %) and stratification (14 and 28 day in fine sand maintaining in refrigerator of + 4 °C). Experiment was set up in completely randomized factorial design with three replications. Comparing with control, sole gibberellic acid treatment or combined with other treatments had no effect on Salvia siirtica germination and rooting behavior. But, combined effects of citric acid and stratification treatments were statistically significant (p<0.01). The highest germination and rooting rates (21.25 and 17.97 %, respectively) were measured on stratification treatment of 28 day.