Studies on Different Pre-Sowing Treatments on Germination Performance and Initial Growth of Polyembryonic Mango (Mangifera indica L.)

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a fruit crop of high economic importance worldwide and has recently gained increasing commercial potential in Türkiye, particularly due to the favorable microclimatic conditions of the Mediterranean Region. The rapid expansion of mango cultivation has consequently increased the demand for uniform and vigorous polyembryonic rootstocks for orchard establishment. This study evaluated the effects of different pre-sowing treatments on seed germination and early seedling growth. The treatments were: T1- intact seed (control), T2- soaking in distilled water for 24 h, T3- hot water treatment (60°C, 30 min), T4- soaking in GA₃ at 100 ppm for 24 h, T5- soaking in GA₃ at 200 ppm for 24 h and T6- soaking in GA₃ at 300 ppm for 24 h. The results showed that GA₃ at 300 ppm was the most effective treatment, with days to initial, 50%, and completion of germination of 16, 28, and 34 days, respectively. Germination percentages on the 20th, 30th, and 40th days were 26.67%, 66.67%, and 100%, respectively. This treatment also produced the highest seedling height (32.4 cm), stem diameter (5.9 mm) and number of leaves (5.5 per seedling). In contrast, the pre-sowing treatments had no significant effect on taproot length.