Effect of GA3 and KNO3 treatments on improving Nepeta crispa seeds germination

Nepeta crispa Willd. is an aromatic endemic plant of Iran. This plant with the common local name Mofarrah (because of its sweet odor) has been of great interest to Iranian traditional medicine. Infusion obtained from the aerial parts of N. crispa was used traditionally as sedative, relaxant, carminative, restorative tonic for nervous and respiratory disorders. Therefore, study of different characteristics of this plant, including propagation and increasing is essential. The effect of GA3 (gibberellic acid) and KNO₃ (potassium nitrate) was tested for seed germination of N. crispa by measuring the germination percentages and rate also dry and fresh weight under pre- soaking seeds with concentrations 50, 100, 200, 300 and 500 ppm of GA3at 48h and 0/1%, 0/2% and 0/4% of KNO₃ at 72h, along with control. The results showed that the highest germination percentage and rate were obtained with seeds which were pre- soaked 300 ppm GA3. Also the highest dry and fresh weight in seeds which were obtained with seeds was pre- soaked 300ppm GA3. But the lowest germination percentage and rate were provided by pre- soaking seeds in 500 ppm of GA3.

Acknowledgement: A.Eskandary, Y.Ahmadi Moghadam, M.Avizegosh