Effectiveness of the application of gibberellic acid (GA3) to stimulate the germination of artificially aged seeds of several sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) genotypes

Gibberellic acid (GA3) plays an important role in seed germination. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effectiveness of gibberellic acid (GA3) application to stimulate the germination of artificially aged seeds of several sorghum genotypes. The experiment using was conducted in Laboratory of Seed and Plant Breeding, Agricultural Faculty, Lampung University, Indonesia in 2023. Treatments were arranged in factorial with three replications. First factor was sorghum genotypes consisting of Kawali, Talaga Bodas, Numbu, Super-1, Samurai-1, Samurai 2, Suri, Cymit, GH-7, GH-8, dan P/F-10-90A, while second factor was GA3 concentrations consisting of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 ppm. The results of the experiment indicated that the application of GA3 at the concentration of 50-75 ppm could increase the germination of artificially aged seeds of sorghum although the magnitude of germination enhancement depends on sorghum genotypes. Sorghum genotypes of Kawali, Samurai-2, PF-10/90-A and Super-1 were more responsive to GA3 application compared to other sorghum genotypes. It seems that there is relation between the increase in seed germination treated by GA3 application with the reduction in electrical conductivity (EC) of sorghum seeds.