Abstract
The presence of dormancy in the seeds of Apiaceae plants is one of the important reasons that make the plant cultivation and domestication difficult. This research was conducted in the Seed Technology Laboratory of Shahed University. The factorial experiment was performed consisting of two levels of mechanical scarification (no-scarification and scarification) and three concentrations of gibberellin (0, 400 and 700 ppm) in a completely randomized design with four replications. Results showed that the scarification treatment affected the considered traits except for the germination rate. In the mechanical scarification treatment, the normal seedling was not produced and therefore, the traits were related to the seedling without the scarification. Seed treatment in the absence of mechanical scarification and priming showed the highest germination rate, which is recommended for achieving the high germination. In addition, the gibberellin concentration of 400 ppm was one of the treatments that showed a relatively high germination rate. Consequently, keeping the seeds moist with distilled water at low temperatures is more effective in achieving higher germination rate than the conditions without scarification and priming. However, gibberellin at 400 ppm concentration was associated with increase in the length of radicle and stem, fresh and dry seedling weight, allometric coefficient, seedling vigor index, relative water content, photosynthetic pigment content, MDA content and catalase activity. In general, results showed that no-stratification and gibberellic acid (400 ppm) is the best treatment for breaking seeds of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff