Regresar

Chemical scarification and use of gibberellic acid for seed germination of blackberry cultivars (Rubus glaucus BENTH)

Abstract:

Blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth) cultivation in the Inter-Andean region of Ecuador requires the generation of new plants; thus, sexual propagation is one of the ways to obtain new plant material. Germination of seeds of the Rubus sp. gender is a complex process because physical and physiological dormancy may be present in many of its species. In this study, two chemical products (5.25%sodium hypochlorite and 98% and sulfuric acid) were evaluated for the scarification of seeds of the 'Castilla', 'Andimora' and 'INIAP-148' cultivars of R. glaucus and the application of different doses of gibberellic acid (0, 500, 1000, 1500ppm) that allow to induce, accelerate and increase seed germination. Cultivars 'Castilla' and 'Andimora' treated with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite had high germination percentages (~80%). Sulfuric acid led to a germination percentage similar to the control as it could cause direct damage to the seed, affecting its emergence. The application of gibberellic acid only had an effect on cultivar 'INIAP-148' at a dose of 1000ppm. 'INIAP-148' showed the highest natural germination percentage; while 'Castilla y Andimora' necessarily requires the process of scarification.