Can alternating temperature, moist chilling, and gibberellin interchangeably promote the completion of germination in Clematis vitalba seeds?

Abstract

Each plant species has particular requirements for seed germination, and some of them respond differently to constant or alternating temperature regimes. In this study, the interchangeable effects of different treatments and temperatures on the completion of seed germination of Clematis vitalba L. were investigated. The seeds were tested with a constant (from 5 °C to 25 °C) or a fluctuating (25/10 °C) temperature regime, and the effect of gibberellic acid (GA3), incubation at warm (W) or cold (C) temperatures while being imbibed, and drying after ripening (DAR) were evaluated. The final germination percentages and the time in days required to reach 50% of germination (T50) were calculated. GA3 and C significantly enhanced completion of seed germination at all of the temperatures tested. A strong positive effect of alternating temperature was observed, which triggered completion of seed germination regardless of treatment. Under the fluctuating temperature, the chilled seeds had the most rapid germination. Low germination rates were observed for both control and DAR treatments. Seeds of C. vitalba display a certain degree of dormancy, which can be broken by moist chilling and GA3 treatments. Moreover, alternating temperature stimulates the completion of seed germination by satisfying certain physiological requirements for germination under constant temperatures.