Effects of Sodium Nitroprusside and Gibberellic Acid Applications on Direct Germination of Fully Mature Grapevine Seeds and Seedling Growth

Seeds are widely used in grapevine breeding to obtain new genotypes, however, physical, and physiological constraints in seeds reduce the germination rate and slow down breeding programs. The germination rate of matured grapevine seeds and in vitro methodologies that shorten the process of obtaining seedlings have been described, but the early germination of fully matured seeds in vivo has not been adequately studied. In this study, the effects of Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and GA3 on germination stimulation were examined. At the same time, fresh (F) and dried (D) seeds were used to determine the drying effect of the seeds separated from the fruit flesh. The effects of control (pure water), SNP (100–500 µM) and GA3 (1–5 gL-1) 24-hours immersion applications on seed germination, vegetative development and seedling development were evaluated. While SNP (F-500 µM SNP in cv. Gök Üzüm, 77.94%) and GA3 (F-GA3 1 g L-1 in cv. Royal 70.87%) applications increased germination and plant transformation rates, dose effects were relatively limited. GA3 treatments promoted germination more in cv. Royal and SNP in cv. Gök Üzüm. GA3 (2.5 gL-1) and SNP (500 µM) applications also increased shoot growth and leaf chlorophyll contents. This technique can contribute and accelerate breeding programs carried out with seed-producing vines, as it provides higher germination rates and seed germination and seedling production immediately after the fully mature clusters harvested.