Methods of breaking dormancy:
The dormancy of seeds can be broken by different methods.
These are:
- Scarification: Mechanical and chemical, treatments like cutting or chipping of hard tough
seed coat and use of organic solvents to remove waxy or fatty compounds are called as Scarification.
- Impaction: In some seeds, water and oxygen are unable to penetrate micropyle due to blockage by cork cells. These seeds are shaken vigorously to remove the plug which is called Impaction.
- Stratification: Seeds of rosaceous plants (Apple, Plum, Peach, and Cherry) will not germinate until they have been exposed to well-aerated, moist conditions under low temperatures (0°C to 10°C) for weeks to months. Such treatment is called Stratification.
- Alternating temperatures: Germination of some seeds is strongly promoted by alternating
daily temperatures. An alternation of low and high temperature improves the germination of seeds. .
- Light: The dormancy of photoblastic seeds can be broken by exposing them to red light.
