Seed Germination Ecology and Dormancy Release in Some Native and Underutilized Plant Species with Agronomic Potential

Georgios Varsamis, Theodora Merou, Ioanna Alexandropoulou, Chrysoula Menti and Eleftherios Karapatzak ()
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Georgios Varsamis: Department of Natural Environment and Climate Resilience, Democritus University of Thrace, 66100 Drama, Greece
Theodora Merou: Department of Natural Environment and Climate Resilience, Democritus University of Thrace, 66100 Drama, Greece
Ioanna Alexandropoulou: Department of Natural Environment and Climate Resilience, Democritus University of Thrace, 66100 Drama, Greece
Chrysoula Menti: Department of Natural Environment and Climate Resilience, Democritus University of Thrace, 66100 Drama, Greece
Eleftherios Karapatzak: Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Within the context of sustainable exploitation of phytogenetic resources, the present study aimed to develop species-specific seed germination protocols for eighteen native and potentially underutilized plant species originating from northeastern Greece. The taxa were selected based on their antioxidant potential and their provenance to enhance their regional exploitation potential, thus utilizing the species’ local adaptation traits. To quantify the maximum germination potential in each case, seed viability was assessed using the tetrazolium (TTZ) test. The pre-treatments applied for seed dormancy release included cold stratification and the application of gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) and kinetin. Germination tests revealed that 9 of the 18 species exhibited high germination percentages in the control treatment (ranging between 64 and 90%) indicating that after-ripening was sufficient for any seed dormancy release in a significant portion of the seed lot. Furthermore, cold stratification and hormonal treatments significantly enhanced germination in seven species (final seed germination up to 85%), indicating deeper physiological dormancy and confirming the role of cold stratification and phytohormones in dormancy release. Two species showed no germination under any pre-treatment while viable, indicating the presence of more complex dormancy mechanisms. Germination percentages were frequently lower than the corresponding seed viability values, which ranged from 70% to 100%, suggesting that a portion of the seed lot exhibited deeper dormancy throughout. The results showcased species with favorable germination patterns, thus successfully identifying species that can be readily propagated, as well as species that require specific pre-treatments. The study sets the basis for domestication and sustainable use of local antioxidant-rich flora, providing a clear roadmap for the agronomic utilization of the focal species to support the regional bioeconomy.

Keywords: native plants; germination protocols; antioxidant species; seed dormancy; seed viability; GA 3; kinetin; cold stratification; agronomic potential (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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