Effect of Temperature on Germination Biology in Centaurea Species

Abstract

The temperature requirement is important factor for adaptation to an ecology of any plant species. Plant seeds growing in the places with high altitutes are excepted to well develop at lower temperatures. In addition, temperature highly determines when seeds will germinate under field conditions. With different flower colors and appearence, Centaurea is an annual, biennial and perennial plant genus, alternatively used for culture plants in landscape architecture works. Centaurea virgata growing at 1750 altitude were germinated at different temperatures. Their germination rate and their percentage of germination were investigated and the best germination temperature assessed. In this study, seeds from roadsides and fields of Centaurea balsamita, Centaurea iberica and C. virgata growing at 1750 altitute were germinated at different temperatures. Their germination speed and germination percentage were investigated and the best germination temperature was assessed. As a result, the best germination percentage and speed was C. balsamita at 15 degrees C.