ISHS Acta Horticulturae 356: II International Symposium on Olive Growing
BREAKING OF DORMANCY IN OLIVE (OLEA AUROPAEA L.) SEEDS |
| Authors: | E.M. Sotomyor Leon, J.M. Duran Altisent |
| Abstract:
Dormant olive (Olea europaea L. cv. 'Arbequina'), seeds, without endocarp, were treated with: a) Gibberellins (GA3, GA4+7, GA13 and GA13+14); B) norflurazon [4-chloro-5- (methylamine)-2-(a, a, a-trifluoro-m-tolyl)-3-(2H)-pyridazinone]; c) red light ( = 660 nm, 2.8 Wm-2, 10 min); d)soaked in distilled water (3–12 days) or e) running tap water for 30 days. Only the norflurazon treatments and the washing in running tapwater were successful. Concentrations of norflurazon between 1 and 50 μM break dormancy and promote germination (radicle protrusion) to levels of 16% and 80% respectively. However, after several days of growing, the pre-germinated seed become albino seedlings and they finally die. The germination percentage of rinsed seeds reached 100% after 30 days of continuous washing at room temperature, and the pre-germinated seeds gave 94% of normal (green) and well developed seedlings after transfer to vermiculite. Possible mechanisms for the norflurazon and water rinsing effects are discussed. | |
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