The effect of germination temperature on antioxidant enzymes activities and seed germination of Prangos ferulacea Seeds harvested at different seed moisture content

Prangos ferulacea is a plant from the umbeliferae family that is propagated by seed germination. In order to investigate the effects of seed ripening and germination temperature on germination and some antioxidant enzymes activity of this plant seed, a two-factor factorial experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with three replications in the laboratory of Seed Sciences and Technology (Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran) in 2012-2013. Experimental factors were including harvest seed moisture content (SMC) (67, 51, and 17% based on fresh weight) and germination temperature at two levels (15 and 20℃). Seeds pre-chilled at 4°C before germination test. The α-amylase, dehydrogenase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes activities were measured in dormant (non-chilled) and nondormant (pre-chilled) seeds. The germination results showed that with the progress of ripening, seed physiological quality and germination also increased such that compared to harvest at SMC of 67%, the germination percentage of seeds collected at SMC of 17% rose from 19.68% to 43.2%. Also, it was observed that the pre-chilled seeds incubated at 15℃ germinated more (36.6 %) than compared to those at 20℃ (24.4%). Moreover, it was observed that α-amylase, dehydrogenase, and ascorbate peroxidase activities increased with the ripening progress.