We tested the hypothesis that seeds of the monocarpic perennial Ferula gummosa from the Mediterranean area and central Asia have deep complex morphophysiological dormancy. We determined the water permeability of seeds, embryo morphology, temperature requirements for embryo growth and seed germination and responses of seeds to warm and cold stratification and to different concentrations of GA₃. The embryo has differentiated organs, but it is small (underdeveloped) and must grow inside the seed, reaching a critical embryo length, seed length ratio of 0.65–0.7, before the seed can germinate. Seeds required 9 weeks of cold stratification at <10°C for embryo growth, dormancy break and germination to occur. Thus, seeds have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Furthermore, GA₃ improved the germination percentage and rate at 5°C and promoted 20 and 5% germination of seeds incubated at 15 and 20°C, respectively. Thus, about 20% of the seeds had intermediate complex MPD. For the other seeds in the seed lot, cold stratification (5°C) was the only requirement for dormancy break and germination and GA₃ could not substitute for cold stratification. Thus, about 80% of the seeds had deep complex MPD.

中文翻译：

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Ferula gummosa（Apiaceae）种子的深层和中层复杂形态生理休眠

我们检验了一种假设，即来自地中海地区和中亚的多年生单掌多年生阿魏草的种子具有深深的复杂形态生理休眠。我们确定了种子的透水性，胚的形态，胚生长和种子萌发的温度要求以及种子对冷，热分层和不同浓度的GA _3的响应。胚胎具有分化的器官，但很小（不发达），必须在种子内部生长，在种子发芽之前，必须达到临界的胚胎长度，即种子长度比为0.65-0.7。种子需要在低于10°C的温度下进行9周的冷分层，以使胚胎生长，休眠并发芽。因此，种子具有形态生理休眠（MPD）。此外，GA ₃提高了5°C下的发芽率和发芽率，并分别促进了15和20°C下孵育的种子发芽20％和5％。因此，约20％的种子具有中间复合物MPD。对于种子批次中的其他种子，低温分层（5°C）是打破休眠和萌发的唯一条件，而GA ₃不能代替低温分层。因此，大约80％的种子具有深层复杂的MPD。