SEED DORMANCY REMOVAL TREATMENTS AND GERMINATION CHARACTERISTICS OF Acer trautvetteri Medvedev SEEDS

In this study, seed dormancy removal and germination characteristics of Acer trautvetteri Medvedev, is one of the major maple species of the eastern Black Sea region, were studied. To do that, the seeds were collected in 2008 three times with aproximately 15-days intervals. In order to remove dormancy, several germination treatments were applied. The treatments were (1) different seed collection time, (2) soaking in water, (3) cold-moist stratification and (4) GA(3) (gibberellic acid) application. The treated seeds were germinated in growing chamber at 5 degrees C and in greenhouse conditions. This research indicated that seeds of Acer trautvetteri exhibit physiological dormancy and require stratification period to remove seed dormancy. The highest germination percentage in the growing chamber subjected to GA(3) application after eight weeks of stratification treatment was 66 % for Acer trautvetteri seeds. The highest germination percentage in greenhouse was obtained with cold stratification after eight weeks (81 %). Although GA(3) treatment had a positive effect on gemiination in growth chamber i 5 degrees C, GA(3) treatment had a negative effect on germination in greenhouse conditions. Soaking in water of nonstratified seeds wasn't any significant difference on seed germination. There was a positive correlation between seed collection time and germination (r=0.59). As a result, the third collection time (in october) should he preferred as seed collection time in Acer trautvetteri seeds, considering that it may vary according to the climatic conditions of the year.