INFLUENCE OF pH AND TEMPERATURE ON GERMINATION ENERGY, GERMINATION, ROOT AND SEEDLINGS HYPOCOTIL LENGTH OF VARIOUS ALFALFA CULTIVARS (Medicago sativa L.)

Abstract

The traits of germination energy, seed germination, as well as root and hypocotyls length of domestic alfalfa cultivars (Slavonka, Stela, Vuka) were investigated in a climate chamber. The experiment was set up at two pH levels of water solution (4.00 and 6.00) and temperature levels of 10°C and 20°C using rolled filter paper method. Significant difference between cultivars (p=0.01, p=0.05) was determined for germination energy, seed germination and hypocotyls length. Cultivar Slavonka had the highest average values for germination energy and seed germination, and the lowest for hypocotyls length. Cultivar Vuka had the lowest germination energy (but with the same germination as Stela) and the longest hypocotyls. Seed germination as well as root and hypocotyl length significantly depended (p=0.01) on pH of water solution. The higher average values of all traits were found at pH 4.00, except for germination energy. Temperature also significantly affected on all investigated traits (p=0.01), whilst the higher values were attained at higher temperature. Interactions cultivar x pH and cultivar x temperature were significant (p=0.01) for all traits, while pH x temperature interaction was not significant only for seed germination.

Keywords

• alfalfa
• cultivar
• germination
• pH
• temperature