ISHS Acta Horticulturae 215: Seed Research in Horticulture
STUDIES ON FIELD EMERGENCE AND VIGOUR OF ONION, SUGAR BEET, FLAX AND MAIZE SEED |
| Authors: | J. Bekendam, H.L. Kraak, J. Vos |
| Abstract:
Field emergence of onion, sugar beet, flax and maize seed was examined for two or three years under a range of environmental conditions. Emergence data were subjected to a genotype x environment interaction analysis. Vigour differences were clearly demonstrated between different seed lots of the large-seeded species maize. Both accelerated ageing and mechanical damage (particularly endosperm damage) of maize seed induced a marked decrease in vigour. Under favourable field conditions the germination capacity of maize seed lots correlated better with their field emergence than results of a cold test and a conductivity test, however under unfavourable field conditions the vigour tests showed a better correlation with field emergence than germination capacity. For the small-seeded species onion, sugar beet and flax no vigour differences between seed lots could be demonstrated. Even accelerated ageing of seed lots failed to induce detectable vigour differences. For these seed species the germination capacity of seed lots had a good correlation with their field emergence both under favourable and unfavourable field conditions. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
