Evaluation of english plantain and lemon balm germination and vigor

Abstract

The first work was executed with the objective to evaluate the better solution in the Plantago lanceolata Hook. germination. The seeds were soaked with gibberelic acid (0.01% and 0.02%), thiourea (0.01% and 0.02%) and potassium nitrate (0.2% and 0.4%), plus a control treatment with 4 repetitions, disposed in CRD. The experiments were conduced on gerbox with a constant temperature of 20ºC. The evaluations were done every day until 21 days. The 1,000 seeds weight was 2.085 grams. The gibberellic acid provided the higher increase of GSI until 15 days. The higher values for germination percentage at seven days were verified in seeds soaked with gibberellic acid in two concentrations and at 21 days there were no differences between the best treatments: control, gibberellic acid (0.01% and 0.02%), thiourea (0.01%) and potassium nitrate (0.2%). In the second experiment, the objective was to evaluate the effects of the temperature and GA₃ on germination and vigor of Melissa officinalis L. seeds. It was tested five temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30ºC and alternate 20-30ºC) in presence and absence of GA₃. The experiment was carried out in gerbox on blotter paper. Daily counts were performed for 10 days. The experimental design used was completely randomized factorial arrangement (5x2) with four replications, and 50 seeds per treatment. There were no differences in responses of GSI and first germination count of lemon balm’s seeds between the temperatures. The presence of GA₃ increased the germination speed index of the seeds, but did not influence in first germination count.