The Effects of Light and Temperature on Germination of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana BERT.) Seeds

Authors : Esra UÇAR, Yaşar ÖZYİĞİT, Kenan TURGUT

Pages : 37-40

Doi:10.19159/tutad.76528

View : 20 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2016-03-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The Stevia rebaudiana insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Bert.); Bertoni is a perennial herbaceous plant and belongs to family of Asteraceae insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Compositae);. The contents of S. rebaudiana insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Bert.); Bertoni consist mainly non-caloric stevioside and rebaudioside A sweeteners. Low seed germination is an important problem in stevia cultivation. Therefore in this study, the effects of light and temperature on germination performance of stevia seeds were studied. Stevia rebaudiana seeds were treated with two lights insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(light/darkness); and four different temperatures insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(15 ºC, 20 ºC, 25 ºC, 30 ºC);. For each treatment, 50 seeds were counted and placed into petri dishes. Experiments were conducted as a randomized complete design method with three replicates. Germination was started within 6 to 10 days depending on the treatments. The highest seed germination rate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(71%); was observed in darkness/25 ºC temperature and followed by darkness/20 ºC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(68%); and light/25 ºC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(67%);. On the other hand, the lowest seed germination rate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(31%); was obtained from 15 ºC in both light and dark conditions and followed by darkness/30 ºC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(43%); and light/30 ºC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(49%);. The results showed that lower insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(15 ºC); and higher insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(30 ºC); temperatures significantly decreased the germination rates of stevia independently from the light treatments.
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