Germination Performance of Wild Lupine Seeds (Lupinus varius L.) in Jordan Using Different Breaking Dormancy Treatments

Wild lupine (Lupinus varius L.) is an annual plant native to the Mediterranean region. Only a few studies have investigated the germination performance of wild lupine seeds in the Mediterranean region and examined different effects of temperatures and multiple dormancy-breaking treatments, which could help crop breeders to develop varieties more resilient to climate change. This study was conducted to assess how different dormancy-breaking treatments, including hot water (80 °C), chemical scarification using sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), and mechanical scarification, affect the germination rate and radicle length of wild lupine seeds when exposed to four controlled temperatures: 10, 14, 18, and 22 °C. A complete randomized design with three replications was used in this study. Mechanical scarification combined with a temperature of 22°C for 15 days was the most effective treatment for breaking the dormancy and resulted in the highest germination percentage (93.3%) and the highest radicle length (7.6 mm) for lupine seeds. In contrast, the lowest germination percentage (13.1-13.3%) was observed for H₂SO₄ and control wild lupine seeds (untreated) incubated at 10°C. In conclusion, mechanical scarification is an excellent method for breaking the seed dormancy of wild lupine seeds.