Enhancement of Seed Germination and Uniformity in Capsella bursa-pastoris through Seed Pretreatment

Background: Capsella bursa-pastoris is a globally distributed weed that has long been used both as a food and medicinal resource. However, despite its potential applications, its germination conditions and related cultivation methods have not yet been well-established. When seeds are sown mixed with sand, as commonly practiced by farmers, the germination rate remains very low and the germination period is prolonged, making cultivation difficult. Methods and Results: In this study, we subjected seeds from four accessions of C. bursa-pastoris (CB-8, CB-9, CB-10, and CB-16), collected from different regions of the Republic of Korea, to various priming treatments to improve germination rate and speed. Under moist treatment at a low temperature (4°C for 3 days), germination rates varied among the accessions, ranging from 20% to 60%. Half-scarification enhanced germination, resulting in germination rates between 87% and 100%. Among the chemical treatments, soaking in 50% H₂SO₄ for 30 min yielded germination rates of 57%–90%, whereas soaking in 30% NaOH for 5 min completely inhibited germination (0%). To synchronize seed germination, we applied moisture treatment for different durations (3, 5, or 7 days) prior to half-scarification, and compared the germination speed. Under the condition of 7 days of moist treatment before half-scarification, the time required for all seeds to complete germination was shortened to within 2 days. Conclusions: C. bursa-pastoris displayed variation in germination rates among accessions, and germination was improved by half-scarification and soaking in 50 % H₂SO₄ for 30 min. Pretreatment with moist treatment at 4 °C before half-scarification further enhanced germination rates accession-dependently. Extending the duration of the low-temperature moist treatment to 5 or 7 days increased germination speed, and in the 7-day treatment, all accessions completed germina- tion within 2–4 days, allowing for uniform seedling production.