Effect of PEG-6000 Treatments and Growth Media on Emergence and Seedling Development of Kiwifruit Seeds

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different PEG-6000 (Polyethylene Glycol-6000) treatment doses and growth media on emergence and seedling development of the seeds of ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit cultivar. Effects of 3 different growth media (Peat + perlite, peat + perlite + soil, soil + river sand + peat) and 4 different PEG-6000 doses (0 g L −1 , 200 g L −1 , 300 g L −1 , 400 g L −1 ) were investigated. Seed were sown after a viability test (TTC Test). Seed viability ratios were varied between 88–100%. Higher emergence ratios were observed in 300 g L −1 PEG-6000 treatment (61%) than the other treatments. With regard to growth media, the best emergence (90.5%) were observed in peat + perlite growth media. Seedling development were recommended based on current findings that 300 g L −1 PEG-6000 dose and peat + perlite (height 15.11 mm, hypocotyl diameter 1.78 mm) or 0 g L −1 PEG-6000 dose and soil + river sand + peat growth media (height 16.20 mm, hypocotyl diameter 1.78 mm) should be used for the best emergence ratios and seedling development of kiwifruit seeds. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, ein Teil von Springer Nature.