Modeling seed germination in Melisa officinalis L. in response to temperature and water potential

Abstract

Seed germination is greatly influenced by both temperature (T) and water potential (ψ) and these factors largely determine germination rate (GR) in the field. Quantitative information about T and ψ effects on seed germination in lemon balm (Melisa officinalis L.) is scarce. The main objective of this study was to quantify seed germination responses of lemon balm to T and ψ, and to determine cardinal temperatures in a laboratory experiment. A segmented model was used to describe the effects of ψ (i.e., T) on GR and other germination parameters. The segmented model estimates were 7.2 °C for base (T b), 28.9 °C for optimum (T o), 40.1 °C for ceiling temperature (T c) and 1.64 physiological days (f o) (equivalent to a GRmax of 0.610 d−1 and a thermal time of 35.6 °C days) to reach 50 % maximum germination in the control (0 MPa) treatment (R 2 = 0.99, RMSE = 0.005 day−1). The inherent maximum rate of germination (days) was calculated by the [GRmax = 1/f o] model. ψ affected cardinal temperatures. From 0 to −0.76 MPa, when ψ increased, T b was a constant 7.2 °C to −0.38 MPa and increased linearly to 20.1 °C as ψ decreased. T o and f o increased linearly from 28.9 to 30 °C, and from 1.64 to 5.4 day−1, respectively as ψ decreased. However, there was no signification difference in T o as ψ decreased nor did T c decrease from 40.1 to 35 °C as ψ decreased. T b, T c and GRmax were the sole parameters affected by ψ and could be used to characterize differences between ψ treatments with respect to GR at various Ts. Therefore, the segmented model and its parameters can be used in lemon balm germination simulation models.