Dormancy-breaking treatments for enhancing seed germination in plant Kitaibela vitifolia Willd

Vine-leaved kitaibelia (Kitaibela vitifolia Willd.), also known as balkanmalva or chalice flower, is a critically endangered plant species with high risk of extinction in the wild. A reason given for this is, among others, low germination rate primarily caused by dormancy. The present study evaluated seed and seedling growth parameters vine-leaved response to eight different pre-sowing treatments. final percentage ranged from 0 % 55 %, depending on treatment. most effective method breaking dormancy increasing was treatment seeds soaked H2SO4 5 min. mechanical scarification improved compared control treatment, while treatments nitric acid gibberellic were not enhancing germination. All affected Considering that successful establishment are crucial regeneration further studies required order identify other could enhance and, consequently, development.