Effect of storage conditions and storage periods on seed germination of Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad

Abstract

Seed storage of range species especially for key species and palatable is inevitable for improvement and development of rangelands. After gathering seeds within the site and separating litters and defect seeds, they are kept in oven at a temperature 30°C and when their humidity is about 10 percent, we take them out. Now in 44 containers all with their shutters, put in each 150 random seeds and put to them four treatments: 0-5, 5-10, 15 and 20 °C. We put each of the eleven containers in separate storage areas and using a germination machine, measuring the germination capacity will be possible. Results show that all of the temperatures have a significant difference at 5% and maximum ratio of germination achieves at 0-5 °C during 6 months. Interaction between storage conditions and storage periods shows that storage periods of seeds till 9 months for temperatures 0-5 and 5-10°C, the percentage of germination capacity will increase and then will decrease. But of treatments 15 and 20 °C with an increase in time of storage, the germination of K. prostrata will decrease. It seems that temperature is one of the factors that decrease the after-ripening period but this factor in a short time has a severe effect on the germination capacity of K. prostrata. Seeds of K. prostrata can sustain more than 50% of their germination capacity at temperatures 0-5 and 5-10 °C during 24 months.