The Effect of Different Stratification Methods on the Germination of Acer Platanoides and Acer Campestre Seeds

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of temperature on the germination response in six origins of Acer platanoides and Acer campestre seeds. Seeds of both species were exposed to four methods of stratification: cold (3 °C) and warm (20 °C), with and without sand-peat medium. The highest percentage of germination (54.75%) was obtained, for Acer platanoides, when the treatment was conducted at 3 °C. The initiation of germination with a low percentage of germinated seeds (12.75% to 22.25%) determined the initiation of secondary dormancy for the majority of A. platanoides seeds. In the case of the A. campestre seeds, the pretreatment phase in cold environment (19 weeks) proved to be too short for these origins.