GERMINATION IN HELICHRYSUM AUREONITENS (ASTERACEAE) - EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE, LIGHT, GIBBERELLIC-ACID, SCARIFICATION AND SMOKE EXTRACT

Self propagation in Helichrysum aureonitens Sch, Bip. (Asteraceae) is mainly by resprouting from roots, In an effort to improve seed germina tion of this herb, the effects of temperature, light, gibberellic acid (GA,), scarification and smoke extract on the germination of its seed s in the light and dark were investigated, Seed germination in this sp ecies was temperature and light-dependent and the optimum temperature range appeared to be 25-30 degrees C. Although seed viability was 82% as determined by tetrazolium staining, maximum germination of the cont rol was only 34%, Germination was significantly improved by treatment with GA(3) under continuous illumination of 24 mu mol m(-2) s(-1). Onl y 12.0% of the scarified seeds and 10.0% of the seeds treated with smo ke extract germinated. Germination in the dark and of controls ranged from 0-9%. In this species, smoke extract inhibited germination rather than enhanced it.