The effect of jasmonic acid on germination of dormant and nondormant pear (Pyrus communis L.) seeds

Jasmonic acid (JA) stimulated germination of dormant pear (Pyrus communis L.) seeds. Treatment of seeds with JA not only increased germination level, but also accelerated germination of dormant seeds according to control seeds. However, in the seeds stratified for 30 and more days, JA did not change total ratio of germination, but delayed the germination. The retarding effect of JA on germination was larger in seeds stratified for 90 days. Although JA stimulated germination to some degree but it was not as effective as stratification under cold condition in removal of dormancy in pear seeds.