Effects of gibberellic acid, N6-benzylaminopurine and fluridone on the in vitro germination of Aristotelia chilensis

Abstract

Aristotelia chilensis is a native tree species from Chile whose berry fruits are credited as holding a high antioxidant and cardioprotective ability. Its seeds possess high dormancy. In order to accelerate the germination process, N⁶-benzylaminopurine (BAP), gibberellic acid (GA₃) and Fluridone (FLU) in two concentrations (10 and 100 μM) were studied in vitro conditions. The BAP treatments were the most effective dominance breakers mostly in a 100 μM concentration: reaching 74 % germination at 30 days, much higher than the 27 % from the witness control group. Germination curves indicate that treatments with GA₃ and FLU accelerated germination, which started after a lag phase of 40 days. However, maximum germination never achieved the one obtained by the BAP 100 μM treatment with 85 % after 60 days.