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volume 34 issue 2 (june 2011) : 98 - 104

IMPROVING GERMINATION RATE OF MEDICAGO SCUTELLATA AND MEDICAGO RIGIDULA AS AFFECTED BY SEED-COAT DORMANCY BREAKING TECHNIQUES

N
Nazila Khaef
H
Hossein Sadeghi *
1Department of Desert Region Management, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Iran

  • Submitted|

  • First Online |

  • doi

Cite article:- Khaef Nazila, * Sadeghi Hossein (2025). IMPROVING GERMINATION RATE OF MEDICAGO SCUTELLATA AND MEDICAGO RIGIDULA AS AFFECTED BY SEED-COAT DORMANCY BREAKING TECHNIQUES. Legume Research. 34(2): 98 - 104. doi: .

ABSTRACT

Medicago scutellata and Medicago rigidula are two species of lucerne. As other legumes these exhibit dormancy, which delays and reduces germination. The germination response of these species to mechanical, physical and chemical scarification, applied for overcoming dormancy, has been studied. The almost full and rapid germination achieved by hand scarification with sandpaper, demonstrated that dormancy was exclusively imposed by seed coat (hardseededness). Soaking in hot water partially removed coat-imposed dormancy in these species, but in M. scutellata even after 2 min at 100 °C, 97.9% of seeds still remained hard. Low temperature by keeping in refrigerator was also effective in final germination and germination rate in seeds of M. scutellata. After 10 days of freezing the germination rate increased by 90%. Keeping seeds on surface run off also had a great result. After 7 days germination rate in seed of M. scutellata became 90%. Chemical scarification with sodium hypochlorite was also effective in reducing hardseededness at the lowest concentration (2%) for the shortest time (2 min) in seeds of M. rigidula.

REFERENCES

  1. Argel, P.J., Paton, C.J., (1999) Overcoming legume hardseededness. In: Loch, D.S., Ferguson, J.E. (Eds.), Forage Seed Production: Tropical and Subtropical Species, vol. 2. CAB International, Wallingford, pp. 247–265.
  2. Beale, P.E., Lahlou, A., Bounejmate, M., (1991) Distribution of wild annual legumespecies in Morocco and relationship with soil and climatic factors. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 42; 1217–1230.
  3. Bewley, J.D., Black, M., (1978). Physiology and biochemistry of Seeds in Relation to Germination. Vol. II: Viability, Dormancy and Environmental Control. Springer, Berlin.
  4. Brant, R.E., McKee, G.W., Cleveland, R.W., (1971) Effect of chemical and physical treatment on hard seed of Penngift Crownvetch. Crop Sci.. 11 ; 1–6.
  5. Chebouti, A., Abdelguerfi, A., (1999) Study on the behaviour of 48 Medicago orbicularis (L.) Bart. populations in two agroecological areas: interaction with the site of origin. In : Dynamics and Sustainability of Mediterranean Pastoral Systems. Etienne, M. (Ed) CIHEAM-IAMZ, Zaragoza, pp. 103–105.
  6. Conway, N.J., Brandon, N.J., Clem, R.L., Jones, R.M., Robertson, B.A., Willcocks, J.R., 2001. Growth and persistence of 17 annual medic (Medicago spp.) accession on clay soils in central Queensland Trop. Grassland. 35, 226–234.
  7. Derkaoui, M., Caddel, J.L., Rommann, L.L., (1993) Forage quality in annual Medicago spp. Agricoltura Mediterranea. 123 ; 86–91.
  8. Hardegree, S.P., Emmerich, W.E., (1991) Variability in germination rate among seed lots of Lehmann lovegrass J. Range Manag.. 44 ; 323–326.
  9. Iban¡ ez, A.N., Passera, C.B., (1997) Factors affecting the germination of albaida (Antyllis cytisoides L.), a forage legume of the Mediterranean coast. J. Arid Environm. 35, 225–231.
  10. ISTA, 1999. International rules for seed testing. Seed Sci. & Technol. 27 :1–333.
  11. Jha, S.S., Pal, A., (1992) Seed structure in Medicago L. Flora. 187 ; 209–218.
  12. Krugman S.L. (1974) Menodora scabra A. Gray, rough menodora. In: Schopmeyer CS, tech. coord. Seeds of woody plants in the United States: Agric. Handbk. 450. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service: 539. 1974
  13. Lodge, G.M., (1996) Seedling emergence and survival of annual pasture legumes in northern New South Wales. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 47 ; 559–574.
  14. Lodge, G.M., Whalley, R.D.B., (2002) Fate of annual pasture legume seeds on a two-way thermogradient plate. Rangeland J. 24 ; 227–241.
  15. Meloni, M.C., Piluzza, G., Bullitta, S., (2000) The potential role of alternative legumes from Asinara island for multiple use in difficult environments. In: , Legumes for Mediterranean Forage Crops, Pastures and Alternative Uses. Sulas, L. (Ed.) Ciheam-Iamz, Zaragoza, pp. 427–430.
  16. Patane , C., Bradford, K.J., (1993) Seed dormancy in two Medicago species typical of natural pastures of Ragusa Plateau. Rivista di Agronomia. 4 ; 412–418.
  17. SAS Institute (1993) SAS/STAT user’s guide Release 608 ed SAS Inst, Cary, NC.
  18. Scott, S.J., Jones, R.A., Williams, W.A., (1984) Review of data analysis methods for seed germination. Crop Sci.. 24 ; 1192–1198.
  19. Snedecor, G.W., Cochran, W.G., (1989) Statistical Methods, 8th ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.
  20. Sy, A., Grouzis, M., Danthus, P., (2001) Seed germination of seven Sahelian legume species. J. Arid Environ. 49 ; 875–882.
  21. Uzun, F., Aydin, I., (2004) Improving germination rate of Medicago and Trifolium species. Asian J. Plant Sci.. 3 ; 714–717.
  22. Van Assche, J. A., Debucquoy K.L.A. and W.A.F. Rommens. (2003) Seasonal cycles in the germination capacity of buried seeds of some Leguminosae (Fabaceae). New Phytol. 158 ; 315–323.
  23. Zhu, Y., Sheaffer, C.C., Barnes, D.K., (1996) Forage yield and quality of six annual Medicago species in the north–central USA. Agron. J. 88 ; 955–960.
  24. Zoghlami, A., Zouaghi, M., (2003). Morphological variation in Astrgalus hamosus L. and Coronilla scorpioides L. population of Tunisia. Euphytica. 134 ; 137–147.
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    volume 34 issue 2 (june 2011) : 98 - 104

    IMPROVING GERMINATION RATE OF MEDICAGO SCUTELLATA AND MEDICAGO RIGIDULA AS AFFECTED BY SEED-COAT DORMANCY BREAKING TECHNIQUES

    N
    Nazila Khaef
    H
    Hossein Sadeghi *
    1Department of Desert Region Management, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Iran

    • Submitted|

    • First Online |

    • doi

    Cite article:- Khaef Nazila, * Sadeghi Hossein (2025). IMPROVING GERMINATION RATE OF MEDICAGO SCUTELLATA AND MEDICAGO RIGIDULA AS AFFECTED BY SEED-COAT DORMANCY BREAKING TECHNIQUES. Legume Research. 34(2): 98 - 104. doi: .

    ABSTRACT

    Medicago scutellata and Medicago rigidula are two species of lucerne. As other legumes these exhibit dormancy, which delays and reduces germination. The germination response of these species to mechanical, physical and chemical scarification, applied for overcoming dormancy, has been studied. The almost full and rapid germination achieved by hand scarification with sandpaper, demonstrated that dormancy was exclusively imposed by seed coat (hardseededness). Soaking in hot water partially removed coat-imposed dormancy in these species, but in M. scutellata even after 2 min at 100 °C, 97.9% of seeds still remained hard. Low temperature by keeping in refrigerator was also effective in final germination and germination rate in seeds of M. scutellata. After 10 days of freezing the germination rate increased by 90%. Keeping seeds on surface run off also had a great result. After 7 days germination rate in seed of M. scutellata became 90%. Chemical scarification with sodium hypochlorite was also effective in reducing hardseededness at the lowest concentration (2%) for the shortest time (2 min) in seeds of M. rigidula.

    REFERENCES

    1. Argel, P.J., Paton, C.J., (1999) Overcoming legume hardseededness. In: Loch, D.S., Ferguson, J.E. (Eds.), Forage Seed Production: Tropical and Subtropical Species, vol. 2. CAB International, Wallingford, pp. 247–265.
    2. Beale, P.E., Lahlou, A., Bounejmate, M., (1991) Distribution of wild annual legumespecies in Morocco and relationship with soil and climatic factors. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 42; 1217–1230.
    3. Bewley, J.D., Black, M., (1978). Physiology and biochemistry of Seeds in Relation to Germination. Vol. II: Viability, Dormancy and Environmental Control. Springer, Berlin.
    4. Brant, R.E., McKee, G.W., Cleveland, R.W., (1971) Effect of chemical and physical treatment on hard seed of Penngift Crownvetch. Crop Sci.. 11 ; 1–6.
    5. Chebouti, A., Abdelguerfi, A., (1999) Study on the behaviour of 48 Medicago orbicularis (L.) Bart. populations in two agroecological areas: interaction with the site of origin. In : Dynamics and Sustainability of Mediterranean Pastoral Systems. Etienne, M. (Ed) CIHEAM-IAMZ, Zaragoza, pp. 103–105.
    6. Conway, N.J., Brandon, N.J., Clem, R.L., Jones, R.M., Robertson, B.A., Willcocks, J.R., 2001. Growth and persistence of 17 annual medic (Medicago spp.) accession on clay soils in central Queensland Trop. Grassland. 35, 226–234.
    7. Derkaoui, M., Caddel, J.L., Rommann, L.L., (1993) Forage quality in annual Medicago spp. Agricoltura Mediterranea. 123 ; 86–91.
    8. Hardegree, S.P., Emmerich, W.E., (1991) Variability in germination rate among seed lots of Lehmann lovegrass J. Range Manag.. 44 ; 323–326.
    9. Iban¡ ez, A.N., Passera, C.B., (1997) Factors affecting the germination of albaida (Antyllis cytisoides L.), a forage legume of the Mediterranean coast. J. Arid Environm. 35, 225–231.
    10. ISTA, 1999. International rules for seed testing. Seed Sci. & Technol. 27 :1–333.
    11. Jha, S.S., Pal, A., (1992) Seed structure in Medicago L. Flora. 187 ; 209–218.
    12. Krugman S.L. (1974) Menodora scabra A. Gray, rough menodora. In: Schopmeyer CS, tech. coord. Seeds of woody plants in the United States: Agric. Handbk. 450. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service: 539. 1974
    13. Lodge, G.M., (1996) Seedling emergence and survival of annual pasture legumes in northern New South Wales. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 47 ; 559–574.
    14. Lodge, G.M., Whalley, R.D.B., (2002) Fate of annual pasture legume seeds on a two-way thermogradient plate. Rangeland J. 24 ; 227–241.
    15. Meloni, M.C., Piluzza, G., Bullitta, S., (2000) The potential role of alternative legumes from Asinara island for multiple use in difficult environments. In: , Legumes for Mediterranean Forage Crops, Pastures and Alternative Uses. Sulas, L. (Ed.) Ciheam-Iamz, Zaragoza, pp. 427–430.
    16. Patane , C., Bradford, K.J., (1993) Seed dormancy in two Medicago species typical of natural pastures of Ragusa Plateau. Rivista di Agronomia. 4 ; 412–418.
    17. SAS Institute (1993) SAS/STAT user’s guide Release 608 ed SAS Inst, Cary, NC.
    18. Scott, S.J., Jones, R.A., Williams, W.A., (1984) Review of data analysis methods for seed germination. Crop Sci.. 24 ; 1192–1198.
    19. Snedecor, G.W., Cochran, W.G., (1989) Statistical Methods, 8th ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.
    20. Sy, A., Grouzis, M., Danthus, P., (2001) Seed germination of seven Sahelian legume species. J. Arid Environ. 49 ; 875–882.
    21. Uzun, F., Aydin, I., (2004) Improving germination rate of Medicago and Trifolium species. Asian J. Plant Sci.. 3 ; 714–717.
    22. Van Assche, J. A., Debucquoy K.L.A. and W.A.F. Rommens. (2003) Seasonal cycles in the germination capacity of buried seeds of some Leguminosae (Fabaceae). New Phytol. 158 ; 315–323.
    23. Zhu, Y., Sheaffer, C.C., Barnes, D.K., (1996) Forage yield and quality of six annual Medicago species in the north–central USA. Agron. J. 88 ; 955–960.
    24. Zoghlami, A., Zouaghi, M., (2003). Morphological variation in Astrgalus hamosus L. and Coronilla scorpioides L. population of Tunisia. Euphytica. 134 ; 137–147.
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