Breaking Seed Dormancy of Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.)

Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) seeds were collected from the west part of Turkey in the fall of 2002. Seeds with pericarp (+) or without pericarp (−) were treated with 1000 mg/l, 2000 mg/l and 3000 mg/l GA₃ concentrations, cold stratified at +4 ± 1°C for 25 and 50 days, punctured and seed coat removed to overcome and assess the mechanism of laurel seed dormancy. A period of 50 days cold stratification and removing seed coat significantly increased germination rate to 55% ± 1.91 (Mean ± SE) and 85% ± 3.00, respectively. None of the seeds with pericarp germinated regardless of treatment they underwent. Results suggested that seed dormancy was mainly due to pericarp and perhaps inhibitors linked to seed coat.