Overcoming strawberry achene dormancy for improved seedling production in breeding programs

Abstract

Strawberry achenes present tegument dormancy. This fact, together with the low efficiency of artificial pollination requires a larger number of crossings to ensure the minimum number of achenes used in seedling production in breeding programs. The aim of this study was to test chemical solutions to overcome dormancy in strawberry achenes in order to increase the germination and Germination Speed Index (GSI). The study consisted of two experiments. 1) immersion in H2SO4 (98%), HCl (37%) and NaClO (2%) for 0 (control), 10, 20, 35 and 50 min were evaluated. 2) achenes were immersed in H2SO4 (98%) for 0 (control), 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 min. A completely randomized design with four replications was used. Germination and GSI were assessed daily for 15 days. Scarification with H2SO4 (98%) for 40 min increased strawberry achene germination to 80% and can be used as a technique to overcome dormancy. Scarification with HCl and NaClO increases germination and the GSI, however, other concentrations and immersion times of those methods should be studied.