Improving Seed Germination and Early Growth of Caucasian Whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) by Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Cold Stratification | ||
| ECOPERSIA | ||
| Volume 14, Issue 1 - Serial Number 55, Winter 2026, Pages 103-113 PDF (1.2 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Research | ||
| DOI: 10.48311/ecopersia.2026.118068.82869 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Younes Rostamikia* 1; Maryam Teimouri2; Farnoosh jafari3; Sohrab Mohtaram Anbaran4 | ||
| 1Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Ardabil Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ardabil 5695157451, Iran | ||
| 2Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran 13185116, Iran. | ||
| 3Ardabil Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ardabil, I. R. Iran | ||
| 4M.Sc. of Forest science and engineering , Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Aims: The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and the cold stratification periods on seed germination of Vaccinium arctostaphylos. Material & Methods: The seeds were inoculated with growth-promoting bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas putida, as well as a combination (co–inoculation) of all strains. Then, they were subjected to cold stratification in a refrigerator at 4±1°C for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 months. At the end of each period, seeds were sown in polyethylene bags (15 cm × 8 cm) containing cocopeat, perlite, and sand (1:1:2) and placed in a greenhouse with temperatures of 22°C and 25°C and relative humidity of 60% and 70%, respectively. After 40 days, germination percentage, germination speed, and seed vigor index (SVI) were calculated. Findings: Results indicated that bacterial inoculation and their interactions influenced germination traits. Germination percentage ranged from 0 to 58.50%. Both inoculation and CS positively affected germination percentage. The highest seed germination rates (57.50-58.50%) and germination speed (2.26 n. d-1) were observed in co-inoculated seeds with all bacteria combined and 4 to 5 months of cold stratification, respectively. The maximum shoot length (23.25 mm), root length (17.98 mm), and seed vigor index (24.12) were recorded for co-inoculated seeds with all bacterial inoculants and 5 months of cold stratification. Conclusion: The results confirmed overcoming seed dormancy, increased seed germination components, and early seedling growth in V. arctostaphylos. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria are more effective when combined with cold stratification. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Caucasian Whortleberry; Pseudomonas Putida; Seed Dormancy; Vigor Index | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 136 PDF Download: 141 |
||
| Number of Journals | 45 |
| Number of Issues | 2,262 |
| Number of Articles | 25,649 |
| Article View | 34,487,372 |
| PDF Download | 20,489,420 |