Abstract
Seeds of 2 cultivars of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) were subjected to accelerated aging at 45°C and 100% relative humidity (RH) for periods up to 288 hours. In general, longer periods of aging resulted in greater declines in seed quality as measured by laboratory, greenhouse, and field emergence and germination. Seeds of ‘Iroquois’ were more sensitive to aging than ‘Hale’s Best #36’. Significant declines in germination occurred prior to any significant increases in electrolytic leakage from decorticated seeds indicating that electrolytic leakage is not a suitable test for seed quality with muskmelon.
Abstract
“Seed, the germ of life - handle and use with care. ” Perhaps such a statement should appear boldly on all packets, cartons, and bags of seed to emphasize how precious the commodity really is. Agriculture and man's survival depends above all else on seed. As agricultural technology has progressed, greater and greater demands have been placed on seed, specifically with respect to performance. To inaugurate seed quality is not enough, we must also maintain it through to the successful establishment of a successive generation. Performance in the farmer's field is the ultimate test of seed quality.
Achieving a uniform stand of grafted vegetable transplants in the field is critical to the grower because of the high cost of the grafted transplants. Low and erratic stands can lead to monetary losses even in an otherwise successful crop. Establishing a uniform stand of grafted vegetable transplants in the field depends on several additive parameters prevailing in the nursery and in the field. These include seed quality, grafted-transplant quality, and agrotechniques suitable for the special needs of grafted transplants. Seed quality and seed health should be given special emphasis as compared with non-grafted-transplant production. Grafted transplants spend more time in the nursery, are treated manually more, and are more susceptible to seed-borne pathogens. Field preparation, plastic mulch, irrigation and fertilization are important, especially in warm, mediterranean climates.
Cucumber plants )Cucumis sativa cv. Beta-al-pha) were grown in a glasshouse in pots of sand with 3 NaCl levels in the nutrient solution (0.40 and 60 mM) and placed in four large water baths controlled at different temperatures (13, 18,23, and 28°C). The increase of NaCl levels decreased the vegetative growth, seed yield, and seed quality, while the increase of root zone temperature up to 23C° increased the vegetative growth, seed yield and quality. Whereas, 28°C showed lower effect than 23°C. Ethylene production and the content of proline and free amino acids were increased with increasing NaCl levels. The increase of root zone temperature till 23°C decreased ethylene production, proline, and free amino acids contents. Zero NaCl (as control) obtained with 23°C root zone temperature appeared to be the best for the over-all growth, seed yield and seed quality of cucumber plants.
Abstract
This research examines the potential of seed hydration for improving sweet corn (Zea mays L.) seed performance, especially for plantings in cool (10°–15°C) soils. In addition to the effect of hydration treatments, the influence of seed quality and cultivar was evaluated using electrolyte leakage tests and seedling growth cold tests. Seed hydration treatments included seed hardening (a wetting/drying cycle), seed moisturizing (placing seed in moist vermiculite), and osmoconditioning, which were compared to a dry seed control. Hardening and moisturizing treatments improved early emergence by as much as 20%, while osmoconditioning significantly lowered field emergence. Seed moisturizing and hardening also improved uniformity of emergence, and reduced the number of days required to attain 50% or 75% emergence. Seed hydration treatments were effective with the three levels (high, medium, and low) of seed quality and the three cultivars (‘Jubilee’, ‘Midway’, and ‘Reward’) studied.
An index “internal slope” derived from the cumulative frequency distribution of individual seed leachate conductivities is related to seed quality; the larger the index value the less variation among individual seeds in a sample (100 seeds) and the higher the seed quality. We have recently developed data acquisition/instrurment control/data smoothing/data analysis software which accesses frequency and cumulative frequency distributions of individual seed conductivities and the derived index on an almost continuous basis from the start of the first soaking.
At present, lack of convergence with regard to curve fitting may occur necessitating multiple sampling times. A “window in time” approach is described whereby index estimates during a two-hour interval within the index stability phase are averaged. Evidence of the method's ability to assess seed vigor will be presented.
Abstract
Application of systemic fungicides to sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) increased the total number of healthy seed harvested 50% by increasing pod set, number of seed per pod and the proportion of healthy seed. Insecticides aldicarb and naled gave dramatic responses and increased the number of seedlings obtained per parent plant 2- to 5-fold. Insect damage appeared to be an important cause of low seed set and low seed quality in sweet potato.
Abstract
Seed weight, germination, seedling emergence, and yields were examined following desiccation of southernpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp cv. Mississippi Purple] plants with glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine]. Dry seed weight was not reduced by the desiccation process; however, seed quality of those treated at immature stages was reduced. Germination, seedling emergence, and yield from seed desiccated at immature stages were significantly less than from seeds desiccated at more mature stages of development. No differences were apparent between desiccation at mature stages and the control.
Disease management is an important step in any crop establishment system. Emergence of field-seeded crops may take several weeks for many species and represents a vulnerable stage of plant growth. This paper considers various biological, chemical, and physical seed treatments for improved seed performance. The role of seed quality and cultural practices in seedling establishment also is reviewed. Multidisciplinary approaches to improving horticultural crop establishment are promising.
Abstract
Carrot (Daucus carota L. cv. Danvers) seed were produced at plant spacings of 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.30 m in 0.80-m rows to give populations of 25, 13, 6, and 4 plants/m2. Samples from the adjacent commercial carrot seed field provided an additional density of 36 plants/m2. Seed yield, harvest index, and seed quality were evaluated with respect to umbel order and plant density. Phenological development was unaffected by plant density, but plant height increased significantly as density increased. The number of umbels per plant and the number of seeds per umbel decreased with increasing plant density, while seed weight was unaffected. The proportion of the seed contributed by primary umbels increased from 20% at the lowest to 60% at the highest density. Seed yield per plant declined continuously as population increased, but seed yield per unit area increased to a maximum at 12 plants/m2, then declined. Total biological yield (above-ground biomass) rose to a plateau level with increasing plant population. Ceiling biological yield coincided with maximum seed yield. Seed quality within each umbel order, assessed by germination percentage and rate, seedling growth, embryo length, and abnormal or embryoless seeds, was unaffected by plant density, but consistently decreased from primary to tertiary umbel orders. Harvest index (seed yield/biological yield) was highly correlated with seed quality. The relationship between harvest index and plant density in carrot seed production may be useful in optimizing plant populations for maximum seed yield and quality.