Gibberellic Acid (GA3) Seed soaking and germination
Put the seeds in warm water at about 30℃ and soak them for 6~10 hours. After taking them out, wash them with clean water, and then soak them with 10~20 ppm Gibberellic Acid (GA3) for 2~3 hours, and then rinse them with clean water. In low temperature seasons, such as in the north, the seeds can be treated with dry heat (i.e., at low temperature (0~5℃) for about 30 days) before sowing, that is, the seeds are soaked in water at about 60℃ for 4~6 hours, and then rinsed with clean water before sowing.
In high temperature seasons, such as in the south, the seeds can be treated with wet heat (i.e., at high temperature (25~30℃) for about 6~10 hours). After soaking, the seeds can be rinsed with clean water and sown. This method can promote rapid germination of seeds, increase germination rate, and shorten germination time.
In order to prevent seeds from suffering from frost damage and infection due to low temperature during soaking, fungicides (such as carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, etc.) can be added during soaking for disinfection. Since Gibberellic Acid (GA3) is insoluble in water, gibberellin can be dissolved in organic solvents (such as acetone, ethanol, etc.) for use.
