The Effects of Environmental Conditions and Chemical Treatments on Seed Germination in Astilboides tabularis (Hemsl.) Engl.

Tabulis [Astilboides tabularis (Hemsl.) Engl.] has the potential for becoming a useful horticultural crop. This study was conducted to classify the seed dormancy types and to identify the germination conditions that improve the horticultural usefulness of this plant. We found that A. tabularis (Hemsl.) Engl. produced undifferentiated embryos and had a low germination rate of under 50%. In addition, water submersion led to moisture absorption. Therefore, A. tabularis seeds were designated as morphologically dormant. The germination rate was highest (86.3%) at $30^{\circ}C$ under light conditions. Higher temperatures generally led to an acceleration of the germination process, regardless of light condition. To improve the germination rate, seeds were submerged in various concentrations of growth regulators, such as $GA_3$ and kinetin, as well as minerals such as $KNO_3$ and KCl. An analysis of germination characteristics at $30^{\circ}C$ under light conditions revealed that treatment with 200 and $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}GA_3$ led to an excellent germination rate of 97.0%. Treatment with $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}GA_3$ led to a better germination rate than the control as well. However, treatment with kinetin, $KNO_3$, and KCl had no effect on germination, regardless of concentration.