Abstract

An experiment conducted to optimize the seed dormancy breaking treatment in Glory lily (Gloriosa superba L.) revealed that soaking the seeds in hot water (boiled to 100° C and removed from the flame) for 40 minutes had effectively improved the seed germination (62 %), seedling length (27.1 cm), seedling dry matter (181.0 mg) and vigour index (1680) accompanied with less hard seeds (15 %) and minimum abnormal seedlings (14 %), compared to acid scarification with concentrated H2 SO4 for 2 minutes that improved the germination (52 %) over non-scarified seeds (22 %), but led to the development of abnormal seedlings (14 %) and dead seeds (12 %) at an increased level

Keywords: Glory lily, seed dormancy, hot water soaking, germination, vigor