The Effect of Pre-Sowing Seed Treatment on Germination of Species of Genus Iris

Abstract

The effect of presowing treatment on the germination of seeds of three species of g. Iris (I. setosa, I. sanguinea, I. laevigata) was studied. The influence of the following factors was studied: 1) treatment with phytohormones (succinic acid, heteroauxin, Appin, HB-101); 2) cold stratification; 3) scarification (complete removal of the pericarp and alternating soaking and drying); 4) incision of the pericarp of the seed in the area of the scar. The seed treatment with phytohormones was not effective, it led only to the acceleration of the beginning and reduced the duration of germination compared to the control. Stratification of I. setosa and I sanguinea seeds at 4–8 °C stimulated the germination only of a small part of the seeds. Removal of the rind from the seeds of iris bristly did not give good results, only 1 % of seeds germinated at the 43rd day. Alter- nating soaking and drying of seeds of iris bristly also had no significant effect on germination. The positive result gave a cut of the seeds in the area of the scar, as the result a laboratory germination increased in com- parison with the control: I. setosa by 28 %, I. sanguinea – 8,5 % and I. laevigata – 61 %.