Effects of Stratification and Growth Regulators on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Quercus ilex L

In order to study the nature of seed dormancy of Quercus ilex L., in two separate experiments pericarp-removed seeds were stratified for 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 months or treated with concentrations of benzyl adenine (BA) (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg L-1), gibberellic acid (GA3) (100, 200, 400 and 800 mg L-1) or combinations of them (50 mg L-1 BA+100 mg L-1 GA3 or 200 mg L-1 BA+400 mg L-1 GA3 or 400 mg L-1 BA+800 mg L-1 GA3). Stratification (1 to 2 months in 5°C) increased seed emergence up to 66.66%. Application of 200 mg L-1 BA+400 mg L-1 GA3 resulted in highest emergence rates. In average, the highest leaf number, fresh and dry weights (5.23, 0.746 g and 0.296 g, respectively) were obtained when 200 mg L-1 BA alone was used. Using of 800 mg L-1 GA3 resulted in longest shoot (6.82 cm) after two months.