Stratification, scarification and gibberellic acid treatments of garden angelica (Angelica archangelica) seeds

Abstract

A study was made to examine methods to break seed dormancy in long-term stored garden seed lots of angelica (Angelica archangelica), including cold stratification at 4ᵒC for 60 or 85 days, scarification and gibberellic acid treatments. The results showed that stratification was needed but was not enough alone as 60 days gave almost no germination and 85 days 10%. Addition of gibberellic acid improved germination to up to 27% for the seeds stratified for 60 days and 41% for seeds stratified for 85 days, but with large variation among seed samples. Scarification + stratification gave a somewhat similar result, up to 12 and 22% germination, while the combined stratification + scarification + gibberellic acid treatment resulted in more than 60% germination. The results are useful for genebank managers and others involved in conservation and cultivation of garden angelica.