THE EFFECT OF SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE, GIBBERELLIC ACID AND LIGHT ON SEED DORMANCY AND GERMINATION OF STINKWEED AND WILD MUSTARD

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Abstract
Light treatment alone is capable of inducing 100% germination of stinkweed seeds (Thlaspi arvense L.), but not of wild mustard seeds (Sinapis arvensis L. (Brassica kaber (DC.) Wheeler var. pinnatifida (Stokes) Wheeler)). On the contrary, gibberellic acid (GA3) alone is able to induce complete germination in wild mustard, but effected only a slight promotion of germination of stinkweed seeds. Germination of both species increased with increasing time of immersion in 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The NaOCl treatment mimics the effect of acid scarification or dissection in making seeds more porous, removing the barriers to gas exchange and GA3 penetration, and increasing sensitivity to light treatment. However, prolonged NaOCl treatment resulted in either poor germination or seed disintegration. Dormancy of a genetically distinct early-flowering strain of stinkweed can be broken only by the combination of NaOCl, GA3 and light, indicating a high degree of variability in germination responses to various sets of conditions.