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Breaking seed dormancy in some Iranian wild clovers (Trifolium spp.) selected as promising new germplasm

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Abstract

Recently, a clover-breeding program has been launched using the genetic diversity of wild clover species (Trifolium spp.) in order to release new clover germplasms in Iran. Seed dormancy was the major limitation for using these germplasms. To resolve this issue, 12 accessions of T. campestre Scherb., T. diffusum Ehrh., T. echinatum M. Bieb., T. hirtum All., and T. lappaceum L., wild species, together with cultivated species (T. resupinatum L.) which had been selected from previous studies were subjected in this research. Clover seeds were treated by two thermal (2 and 21 °C) and two scarification treatments, in a factorial design. F-test indicated a significant difference (p < 0.00) for germination rate between scarified and non-scarified treatments. However, the cold treatment did not increase the seed germination rate in the non-scarified groups, even though the seeds were transferred from 2 to 21 °C after 4 weeks of seeding. Whereas, the seed coat scarification had a high positive significant effect on seed germination rate. It means the seed dormancy was physical rather than physiological. Based on of Duncan’s test and cluster analysis, the accessions were grouped into three classes in accordance with variation in seed hardness: i-accessions of T. resupinatum which showed no seed coat hardness, ii- accessions of T. campestre with a slightly degree of seed hardness, and cluster iii- containing the accessions of four wild species with severe seed hardness. In addition, there was diversity in seed germination for different seed coat colors. Since brown seeds showed more water permeable coats, breeding for this color type leads to soft-coat seeds. Finally, it is proposed that the seed coat scarification is an essential process before sowing of wild clovers' seeds.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by project No. 0-43-03-89083 of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Agricultural-Research-Education & Extension Organization (AREEO) that was conducted in Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Khorasan-e Razavi. Hereby, the author would like to express especial thanks to National Plant Gene Bank of Iran for providing the seeds and Khorasan Razavi Agricultural Center for providing the facilities for planting the experiment and laboratory studies.

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  1. Branch of National Plant Gene Bank of Iran, Seed and Plant Improvement Department, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Khorasan-E Razavi, Agricultural-Research-Education & Extension Organization (AREEO), Mashhad, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Abbasi

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Correspondence to Mohammad Reza Abbasi.

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Abbasi, M.R. Breaking seed dormancy in some Iranian wild clovers (Trifolium spp.) selected as promising new germplasm. Genet Resour Crop Evol 67, 1577–1585 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-00933-4

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