Effects of GA₃ and KNO₃ on the Germination and DNA Content of Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.).)

The effects of GA₃ and KNO₃ on the seed germination and DNA concentration of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) radicle were investigated. These growth stimulants were gibberellic acid (GA₃), and potassium nitrate (KNO₃) with concentrations of 0 mM (Control), 1 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM. The flax seeds were surface sterilized in ethanol for 5 minutes and rinsed with distilled water before pretreatment with these growth stimulants. The germination study was allowed to stand for 14 days and DNA concentration of flax radicle with the highest germination count was determined for each growth stimulant. The study showed that flax seeds had higher germination count in the dark condition than under the light condition. Concentrations of GA₃ and KNO₃ enhanced the germination of flax seed. GA₃ gave the highest germination percentage with 1 mM concentration been the highest (97%). Also, as the concentration of GA₃ and KNO₃ increases (1-10 mM), the germination percentage reduces with 1 mM concentration producing the highest germination count (97%,52%), respectively. The DNA concentration of the flax radicle that produced these highest germination percentage in the different treatments are: GA₃ (291.50ng/μl), KNO₃ (47.77ng/μl) and Control (47.33ng/μl). Also, the multiple comparisons using least significant difference (LSD) showed that the Control is significantly different at 5% significant level from GA₃. The study recommends the use of 1 mM GA₃ and KNO₃ in germinating flax seeds.

Keywords: Growth stimulant; Concentration; Germination; Flax seed