Effects of stratification and chemical treatments on germination of caper (Capparis ovata Desf.) seeds.

摘要

C. ovata is a native species of the Artvin region of Turkey, able to grow at altitudes of 200-1000 m. This species promises to be of crucial importance in the future of rustic areas such as the province of Artvin. This is because not only can caper serve as an instrument for increasing the native peoples income level through making use of its shoot tips, flower buds and fruits but also it can help considerably in controlling soil erosion. In recent years Caper shrub growing has become popular owing to the increasing international demand for its pickled products. The aim of the present research was to produce C. ovata seedlings in the nursery. Cold stratification procedure in the open field and greenhouse conditions for eliminating seed dormancy were applied in order to find the most suitable germination conditions, because the presence of seed dormancy causes difficulties in seedling production. The highest germination percentage (65.1%) was obtained in seeds which were cold stratified for 60 days in the greenhouse. Germination (29.4%) took place in seeds which were soaked in sulfuric acid for 30 minutes.