Abstract

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a valuable medicinal plant with a high content of gamma linolenic acid. Seed germination and early seedling growth are critical stages for plant establishment and production. One of the major problems in the field of plant cultivation and production of this plant is low and uniform seed germination. Thus in this experiment, the influences of exogenous silicon concentration during germination and early seedling growth was evaluated. Treatments were 7 levels of silicon (0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 1.5, 2 mM Na₂Sio₃) in 4 replicates. The results showed that different treatments of silicon had considerable effect on the germination rate (GR), germination index (GI) and seedling growth of borage. The highest germination percentage was obtained at 1.5 mM silicon and the total dry and fresh weight of seedling was increased. Result of this experiment is consistent with the hypothesis that silicon has a priming effect and can prepare a suitable metabolic reaction in seeds and improve seed germination performance and seedling establishment.

Key word: Boragoofficinalis L., seed germination and seedling growth.