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The development of seed quality in spring and winter cultivars of barley and wheat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

R. H. Ellis  and
C. Pieta Filho
R. H. Ellis*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 236, Reading RG6 2AT, UK
C. Pieta Filho
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 236, Reading RG6 2AT, UK
*
* Correspondence
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Abstract

Seed development and changes in germination ability and longevity were monitored in two spring and two winter cultivars of each of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat(Triticum aestivum L.). Physiological maturity (end of the seed-filling period) occurred between 31 and 41 d after 50% anthesis in the eight cultivars, at which time seed moisture contents had declined naturally to 40–49% (wet basis). Most seeds were able to germinate (in 28 d tests at 10°C) following enforced desiccation at this time (normal germination varied from 83% in one cultivar of winter wheat to 97% in one of spring wheat).Potential seed longevity continued to increase after physiological maturity. The intervalbetween physiological maturity and the time when seeds attained maximum potential longevity varied between 3 and 21 d; maturation drying had reduced seed moisture contents to 16–28% (wb) at this time. The results for all eight cultivars contradict the hypothesis that maximum seed quality is attained at physiological maturity and thereafter declines. The term physiological maturity is potentially misleading, therefore; mass maturity is more appropriate to describe this developmental stage. It is shown that the results of accelerated ageing or controlled deterioration tests may provide misleading conclusions in seed quality development studies if the single storage treatment chosen is inappropriate.

Keywords

barleyHordeum vulgare L.seed developmentseed longevityseed qualityTriticum aestivum L.wheat
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , March 1992 , pp. 9 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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Footnotes

1

Present address Empresa Catannense de Pesquisa Agropecuana EMPASC, Caixa Postal 1460 88001, Flonanopohs/SC/Brazil

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