Temperature is the most important factor in regulating the germination of nondormant seeds at the beginning of the growth season. The present study was conducted to produce simple regression models to predict how temperature affects the time it takes for 50% of a selection of flax seeds to germinate. | Research Article Turk J Agric For 36 (2012) 654-658 © TÜBİTAK doi: A predictive model for the effects of temperature on the germination period of flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum L.) Orhan KURT Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayıs University, 55139 Samsun – TURKEY Received: ● Accepted: Abstract: Temperature is the most important factor in regulating the germination of nondormant seeds at the beginning of the growth season. The present study was conducted to produce simple regression models to predict how temperature affects the time it takes for 50% of a selection of flax seeds to germinate. R-square (r2) values of regression coefficients of the equations established for flax cultivars varied from (Antares) to (Bionda). The optimum temperature for the time to germination for both cultivars was calculated using the coefficients obtained from the regression models. The optimum temperatures were found to be between and °C for Antares and Bionda, respectively. Key words: Flax, germination time, predicted model, temperature Introduction Environmental factors such as temperature, water, and light influence seedling survival and germination. Although all the factors affecting plant growth and development may be at an optimal level, obtaining a higher yield depends on seed quality (Probert 1992). Besides ecological factors, some seed characteristics such as germination rate, the time necessary for 50% of the seeds to germinate, emergence rate, and the time until emergence are important factors affecting yield and quality (Uzun et al. 2000). Seed germination is a complicated event, with different phases of the process affected by temperature, moisture, and oxygen. Temperature is the most important factor regulating the germination of nondormant seeds in irrigated, annual agroecosystems at the beginning of the growth season where light, nutrients, and moisture are typically .
