seed germination response of medicinal plant alyssum (bracteatum) to dormancy breaking treatments

seeds of most herbs such as medicinal plant alyssum bracteatum are known to have a dormancy period in a natural condition. therefore, the identification of factors affecting seed dormancy and germination in order to create optimum conditions for large-scale cultivation of medicinal plants is necessary. the survey was conducted at the research laboratory of biology, university of lorestan in autumn 2014 to assess the impact of appropriate methods to break dormancy and germination of seeds of alyssum. the experiment is done in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 4 replications. treatments in this study were; control (distilled water), scarification with sandpaper, scarification with 7 days chilling at 5°c, silicone (1 m), cacl2 (0/1 m) and kno3 0/2%. the results showed that the highest percent (64/33 percent) and speed (1/14 seed per day) is available in seed scarification (with sandpaper) with 7 days of cold (temperature 5°c) treatments. scarification treatments (with sandpaper) and 0/2 percent potassium nitrate showed significant effects on the germination percentage (48/66 and 37/33 percent respectively). in general, according to the results of the study it can be concluded that the seeds of alyssum probably possess both endogenous (physiological embryo) and exogenous (seed coating resistance) dormancy mechanisms and scarification treatment (with sandpaper) in 7 days of cold (at 5°c) is the best and most appropriate treatment for germination and seed dormancy breaking of this plant.