The effects of umbel order, soaking, and scarification on germination inhibiting substances in Petroselinum crispum L. and other Apiaceae seeds.

摘要

Seed of parsley cv. Moss Curled, carrot cv. Scarlet Nantes, celery cv. Florida 683, celeriac cv. Gains Prague, root parsley [Petroselinum crispum subsp. tuberosum] cv. Hamburg Rooted and parsnip cv. Harris Model and of 6 parsley (Petroselinum crispum) cultivars, (3 seed lots each) were tested for the presence of germination inhibiting substances. Aqueous leachate from seed of all 6 species inhibited germination of lettuces and radishes. Leachate from root parsley seeds were least inhibitory, whileleachate from celery and celeriac seeds were most inhibitory. Inhibitory concentrations in leachate varied between seed lots within a cultivar. Aqueous leachate of seeds from the primary umbels caused less inhibition of germination than leachate from tertiary umbels. Washing parsley seeds in aerated water for 3 hours or more removed some of the inhibitory substances. An aqueous extract prepared from seedcoat tissue, removed during mechanical scarification, inhibited radish seed germination. Inhibition was proportional to the duration of scarification and the amount of seedcoat tissue extracted. Parsley seeds scarified for <=60 minutes germinated at rates comparable with washed seeds, but longer scarification time reduced germination. It is suggested that washing seeds of Apiaceae prior to commercial drying and cleaning may be a practical solution for removal of inhibitors.