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Breaking dormancy of Stylosanthes humilis seeds with low pH solutions

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Abstract

An acidic condition (low pH) of the germination media promoted dormancy breakage of scarified seeds of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis H.B.K.), an annual tropical forage legume, whether produced by either an unbuffered (HCl-KOH) or a buffered (phthalate, McIlvaine) medium. Except for aminooxyacetic acid, all ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors tested and supplied with the low pH solutions decreased germination to variable extents. Low pH-stimulated dormant seeds produced ethylene 4-fold as much than untreated seeds. Production of ethylene by seeds treated with high pH solutions, which did not affect their dormant state, was also very low.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

abscisic acid

ACC:

1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

AIB:

α-aminoisobutyric acid

AOA:

aminooxyacetic acid

ASA:

acetylsalicylic acid

AVG:

2-aminoethoxyvinylglicine

CEPA:

2-chloroethylphosphonic acid

SA:

salicylic acid

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Correspondence to Raimundo S. Barros.

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Pelacani, C.R., Barros, R.S., Ribeiro, D.M. et al. Breaking dormancy of Stylosanthes humilis seeds with low pH solutions. Acta Physiol Plant 27, 387–394 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-005-0016-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-005-0016-4

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