Abstract

Persian shallot grows as a wild plant in Zagros Mountain. In this experiment, attempt was made to study the different aspects of Allium hirtifolium Boiss germination for the first time in controlled laboratory conditions. In the first experiment, treatments were 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of stratification. In the second experiment, seeds were imbibed in 0, 500 and 1000 ppm GA₃ for 12 h and transferred to an incubator at 5, 10, 15, 25°C. Results showed that an increased stratification time improved Germination percentage after the sixth week in 4°C. The GA₃ concentration did not affect the germination percentage. A significant increase in mean germination time (MGT) was observed in treatments where GA₃ concentration increased. Maximum germination percentage reached the highest amount (38%) at 10°C. 10°C was the temperature, which allowed the lowest MGT, meaning the greatest germination rate. In general, 10°C temperature after prolonged period of stratification in 4°C were sufficient for germination of Iranian shallot native to the central part of Iran.

Key words: Germination rate, endemic, GA₃, stratification, Iranian shallot.