Seed germination and phytochemical variations of two Iranian borage (Echium amuenum Fisch & C.A.Mey) under the influence of cultivation location

Abstract

Iranianborage (Echium amoenum) is one of the most important plants of Boragicaceae. In order to determine the most suitable method of overcoming seed dormancy of this plant, the present study was conducted in two different experiments. The first experiment was carried out using seeds collected from Mashhad and Javaherdeh based on a factorial study with three replications. Pretreatments were seed treatment at 4° C for 7, 14, and 21 consecutive days under refrigerated temperature, seed treatment with 500 ppm gibberellic acid for 24 hours, and seed treatment with 50% sulfuric acid for 10 minutes. The second experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design in time and location in two years and two locations of Gorgan and Mashhad. The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of climate on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the flower. Results showed that Iranian borage seed has physiological dormancy since the maximum seed germination percentage was obtained by applying pre-cooling treatments in 7 days. Comparison of the two locations revealed more favorable flower yield and secondary metabolite accumulation (anthocyanin, antioxidant, phenol and flavonoid) in plants cultivated in Mashhad region. Therefore, due to the relative resistance of the plant to water deficit, the cultivation of this plant in Mashhad is suggested to be further evaluated. Also, pre-treatment of 7 days of moist chilling is also recommended to facilitate the germination uniformity.

Keywords

• anthocyanin
• antioxidant activity
• iranian borage
• medicinal plants
• physiological sleep
• seed germination