Stratification period combined with mechanical treatments increase Prunus persica and Prunus armeniaca seed germination

Abstract

The deep dormancy of the Prunus species seeds is caused by the presence of germination inhibitors, mainly abscisic acid (ABA) – in the endocarp, the seed coat and endosperm, and in the embryo. As a consequence, the removal of the endocarp, the seed coat together with the endosperm increases the number of germinated seeds. The effect of different treatments of seeds of three peach cultivars – ‘Madison’, ‘Elberta’ and ‘Rakoniewicka’, and of three apricot cultivars – M II‐42, ‘Bella’ and ‘Somo’, were assessed in terms of seed germination and the growth of obtained young seedlings. Seed treatments involved different duration of stratification period at 5°C and removing endocarp, seed coat with endosperm and the part of cotyledons of the embryo. The best seed/embryo germination, about 96% for the peach cultivars and practically 100% for the apricot cultivars, was obtained by stratifying seeds for 90 days and then removing the seed coat together with the endosperm and subjecting the extracted embryos to a temperature of 20°C. The seedlings obtained from the seeds treated this way have shown good growth. Using these treatments, it was possible to obtain a larger number of apricot and peach seedlings, and thus increase the breeding efficiency of these species.