Exploring the Morpho-Physiological Dormancy and Germination Potential of <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Mill. Seeds In Vitro

Herbaceous peonies, specifically the Balkan–Anatolian <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Miller, are species with various uses such as ornamental and garden purposes, or they can be cut as flowers or potted, or they can be eaten or used for medicinal purposes due to the rich nutritional content of...

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Main Authors: Virginia Sarropoulou, Eleni Maloupa, Katerina Grigoriadou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Seeds
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/4/1/7
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author Virginia Sarropoulou
Eleni Maloupa
Katerina Grigoriadou
author_facet Virginia Sarropoulou
Eleni Maloupa
Katerina Grigoriadou
author_sort Virginia Sarropoulou
collection DOAJ
description Herbaceous peonies, specifically the Balkan–Anatolian <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Miller, are species with various uses such as ornamental and garden purposes, or they can be cut as flowers or potted, or they can be eaten or used for medicinal purposes due to the rich nutritional content of their seeds. However, conventional propagation methods, including rhizome division, grafting, and layering, are slow, while seed propagation is challenging due to double morpho-physiological dormancy. This study therefore evaluated the in vitro germination potential of <i>P. peregrina</i> seeds in darkness under different culture conditions, including different temperature regimes (constant at 15 °C or alternating from 22 °C to 15 °C); incubation periods [120 days: 22 °C (14 d) to 15 °C (0–105 d); 120 days: 22 °C (33 d) to 15 °C (0–87 d); 90 or 140 days at 15 °C]; seed cold storage period (none; 30 days; 3 months; or 2, 5, and 8 years); and gibberellic acid (GA<sub>3</sub>) concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg L<sup>−1</sup>), as dormancy release methods. The results indicated that 60-day-stored seeds (30 d at 15 °C and 30 d cold-storaged at 4–5 °C) exhibited 100% germination within an 80-day culture under 250 mg L<sup>−1</sup> GA<sub>3</sub> at 15 °C. A lower and constant temperature of 15 °C, a shorter 30-day seed cold storage period, and the lowest GA<sub>3</sub> concentration of 250 mg L<sup>−1</sup> comprised the most effective combination treatment for dormancy release and germination acceleration. An understanding of the underlying mechanisms of seed dormancy removal is imperative for successful germination, growth rate and seedling establishment, shortened breeding cycles, and germplasm conservation, leading to the field cultivation and economic production of these peony plants.
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spelling doaj-art-1e83128a9d6b4556aff7c413370ab7652025-08-20T03:44:04ZengMDPI AGSeeds2674-10242025-01-0141710.3390/seeds4010007Exploring the Morpho-Physiological Dormancy and Germination Potential of <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Mill. Seeds In VitroVirginia Sarropoulou0Eleni Maloupa1Katerina Grigoriadou2Hellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO)—DIMITRA, Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceHellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO)—DIMITRA, Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceHellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO)—DIMITRA, Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceHerbaceous peonies, specifically the Balkan–Anatolian <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Miller, are species with various uses such as ornamental and garden purposes, or they can be cut as flowers or potted, or they can be eaten or used for medicinal purposes due to the rich nutritional content of their seeds. However, conventional propagation methods, including rhizome division, grafting, and layering, are slow, while seed propagation is challenging due to double morpho-physiological dormancy. This study therefore evaluated the in vitro germination potential of <i>P. peregrina</i> seeds in darkness under different culture conditions, including different temperature regimes (constant at 15 °C or alternating from 22 °C to 15 °C); incubation periods [120 days: 22 °C (14 d) to 15 °C (0–105 d); 120 days: 22 °C (33 d) to 15 °C (0–87 d); 90 or 140 days at 15 °C]; seed cold storage period (none; 30 days; 3 months; or 2, 5, and 8 years); and gibberellic acid (GA<sub>3</sub>) concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg L<sup>−1</sup>), as dormancy release methods. The results indicated that 60-day-stored seeds (30 d at 15 °C and 30 d cold-storaged at 4–5 °C) exhibited 100% germination within an 80-day culture under 250 mg L<sup>−1</sup> GA<sub>3</sub> at 15 °C. A lower and constant temperature of 15 °C, a shorter 30-day seed cold storage period, and the lowest GA<sub>3</sub> concentration of 250 mg L<sup>−1</sup> comprised the most effective combination treatment for dormancy release and germination acceleration. An understanding of the underlying mechanisms of seed dormancy removal is imperative for successful germination, growth rate and seedling establishment, shortened breeding cycles, and germplasm conservation, leading to the field cultivation and economic production of these peony plants.https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/4/1/7temperaturegermplasm conservationgibberellic acidherbaceous peonyincubation periodin vitro germination
spellingShingle Virginia Sarropoulou
Eleni Maloupa
Katerina Grigoriadou
Exploring the Morpho-Physiological Dormancy and Germination Potential of <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Mill. Seeds In Vitro
Seeds
temperature
germplasm conservation
gibberellic acid
herbaceous peony
incubation period
in vitro germination
title Exploring the Morpho-Physiological Dormancy and Germination Potential of <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Mill. Seeds In Vitro
title_full Exploring the Morpho-Physiological Dormancy and Germination Potential of <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Mill. Seeds In Vitro
title_fullStr Exploring the Morpho-Physiological Dormancy and Germination Potential of <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Mill. Seeds In Vitro
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Morpho-Physiological Dormancy and Germination Potential of <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Mill. Seeds In Vitro
title_short Exploring the Morpho-Physiological Dormancy and Germination Potential of <i>Paeonia peregrina</i> Mill. Seeds In Vitro
title_sort exploring the morpho physiological dormancy and germination potential of i paeonia peregrina i mill seeds in vitro
topic temperature
germplasm conservation
gibberellic acid
herbaceous peony
incubation period
in vitro germination
url https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/4/1/7
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AT elenimaloupa exploringthemorphophysiologicaldormancyandgerminationpotentialofipaeoniaperegrinaimillseedsinvitro
AT katerinagrigoriadou exploringthemorphophysiologicaldormancyandgerminationpotentialofipaeoniaperegrinaimillseedsinvitro