International Journal of Farming and Allied Sciences Effects of Seed ageing on Seedling emergence of Borage (Borago officinalis L.) Medicinal Plant

ABSTRACT: Borage (Borago officinalis L.), is an annual herbaceous plant and native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor . Reduced seedling growth is a consequence of seed deterioration.. It is not clear which of these component (s) is affected by seed deterioration. To study this subject, germination characteristics and seedling growth from deteriorated Borage (Borago officinalis L.) seeds were studied; seeds were incubated at two different temperatures of 30 ºC and 42 ºC for varying times. The results indicated that seed deterioration results in decreased percentage and rate of germination and decreased percentage of normal seedlings. Seedling growth and the fraction of seed reserve mobilization indicated a significant decrease with the advance of deterioration. However, the effect of seed deterioration on the conversion efficiency of mobilized reserves to seedling tissues was not significant. Thus efforts to improve seedling germination and growth in plant breeding programs should focus on improvement of fraction of mobilized seed reserves