Aspirin increases tolerance to high temperature in seeds of Raphanus sativus L. cvar Early Scarlet Globe

The incubation of seeds of Raphanus sativus L. cvar Early Scarlet Globe wit h 10 mu M aspirin resulted in increase in the temperature range for germina tion. The analysis of percentage germination and germination rates indicate d the increase in the optimum temperature from 21.4 to 26 degrees C althoug h at 32.6 degrees C 80.8% of seeds germinated with aspirin and no germinati on in the control. The analysis of the kinetics of seed germination indicat ed that aspirin treatment resulted in germination by decreasing the enthalp y of activation of the process. The aspirin treatment also resulted in the synchronization of seed germination. On the base of our results we propose aspirin application in practice to increase the tolerance to high temperatu re and to synchronize seed germination at least in Raphanus sativus L. cvar early scarlet globe.