Seed characteristics of Amygdalus arabica in Adiyaman region of Turkey

Abstract

Mountain almond (Amygdalus arabica) is a shrub with naturally distributing in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. A. arabica also known as bitter almond and can reach up to 2.5 m. The natural distribution of mountain almond is generally in the Southeast Region of Turkey. The present study carried out to determine the morphological and physiological characteristics of the seed of mountain almond. The seeds were collected from three different populations of A. arabica in Adiyaman. For different each populations seed weight, height, width, thickness, and 1000-seed weight were measured in the laboratory. Morphological characteristics of A. arabica seeds varied according to their populations. Seed germination tests were conducted at 20 degrees C, after prechilling for 0, 3, 6, and 9 weeks at 4 degrees C. Prechilling treatments of 3 weeks were insufficient, but 6 and 9 weeks of prechilling were found to eliminate seed dormancy and led to the highest germination percentage. The average germination percentage after 0, 3, 6, and 9 weeks of prechilling were 3.1%, 49.6%, 80.4%, and 81.1%, respectively. The average mean germination time was approximately between 8 and 10 days.