Effects of Different Temperature and Dormancy Breaking Treatments on Germination of Lotus corniculatus Seeds

This research was carried out in the laboratory according to the factorial experimental design in completely randomized with 4 replications in order to determine the germination temperatures and appropriate dormancy breaking methods of birdsfoot trefoil seeds collected in 3 (three) locations in Suveren (A), Melekli (B) and Aşağı Çamurlu (C) regions of Iğdır province. The germination rates of normal, abnormal and dormant seeds were determined in birdsfoot trefoil seeds at 5 different constant (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C) and 4 variable (15/25, 15/30, 20/30 and 20/35 °C) temperatures. The highest normal germination rates were determined at (20/30 °C). Even at the highest normal germination temperature, it was determined that there was a dormancy rate of 85.0% in the birds of birdsfoot trefoil collected in natural areas. There was no significant difference between the abnormal germination of birdsfoot trefoil seeds at different locations. In addition, there was no significant difference between the abnormal germination at different temperatures. Dormant seed rates were higher at locations B and C. The highest dormant seed rate was seen in birdsfoot trefoil seeds germinated at the lowest temperature (15 °C). In order to break the dormancy, gibberellic acid, potassium nitrate, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, salicylic acid, soaking in warm water, mechanical scarification and soaking in hot water were applied to the birdsfoot trefoil seeds. Compared to the control treatment, sulfuric acid and potassium nitrate increased normal germination rates, gibberellic acid and mechanical scarification did not affect on normal germination rates, and hydrochloric acid and salicylic acid decreased germination rates. According to the research results, it was determined that dormancy was high in seeds collected in natural environments and that the seeds needed to be kept in 95-98% sulfuric acid for 12 minutes to break the dormancy. Soaking Lotus corniculatus seeds in sulfuric acid for 12 minutes increased the normal germination rate to 79%. Sulfuric acid application also caused an increase in the abnormal germination rate.