Vigour Assessment of Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) Seed Lots in Relation to Predicting Seedling Emergence Potential

Abstract

The study aimed to test various vigour tests to correlate them with seedling emergence in two field sowing dates and two different sowing depths in controlled room emergence of ten dill seed lots. Mean germination time, accelerated aging; for 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours, electrical conductivity readings at 16 hours and 24 hours, and EC readings after AA test were used as vigour tests, and results were correlated with seedling emergence percentages. Seedling emergence was tested in two sowing dates in the field and two different sowing depths in controlled room conditions. Controlled room seedling emergence values (80-95% in 2 cm, 76-92% in 4 cm) were higher than those of field emergence values (67-85% in the first sowing and 60-80% in the second sowing). Most of the vigour tests were significantly correlated with emergence potential. The highest correlation values were observed in EC16h and EC24h tests, significance between emergence and these two vigour tests were at P<0.001 three out of four sowings. The results indicated that EC16h can be a fast, practical and easy method of seed vigour discrimination in dill seed lots.

Keywords

• Accelerated aging
• Electrical conductivity
• Emergence correlations
• Radicle emergence test
• Seed vigour

References

1. Basak O, Demir I, Mavi K & Matthews S (2006). Controlled deterioration test for predicting seedling emergence and longevity of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seed lots. Seed Science and Technology 34(3): 723-734
2. Demir I & Mavi K (2007). Controlled deterioration and accelerated aging tests to predict seedling emergence of watermelon under stressful conditions and longevity. Seed Science and Technology 35(2): 445-459
3. Demir I, Ermis S, Mavi K & Matthews S (2008). Mean germination time of pepper seed lots (Capsicum annuum L.) predicts size and uniformity of seedlings in germination tests. Seed Science and Technology 36(1): 21-30
4. Demir I, Cebeci C & Guloksuz T (2012). Electrical conductivity measurements to predict germination of commercially available radish seed lots. Seed Science and Technology 40(2): 229-237
5. Ermis S, Kara F, Ozden E & Demir I (2016). Solid matrix priming of cabbage seed lots: repair of ageing and increasing seed quality. Tarim Bilimleri Dergisi 22(4): 588-595
6. Finch-Savage W E (1995). Influence of seed quality on crop establishment, growth and yield. In: A.S. Basra (Ed.), Seed Quality. Basic Mechanisms and Agricultural Implications, Haworth Press, Inc., New York, 45-80
7. Guloksuz T & Demir I (2012). Vigor tests in geranium, salvia, gazania and impatiens seed lots to estimate seedling emergence potential in modules. Propagation of Ornamental Plants 12(3): 133-138
8. ISTA (2017). International Rules for Seed Testing, International Seed Testing Association, Bassersdorf, Switzerland

9. Lv Y Y, Wang Y R & Powell A A (2016). Frequent individual counts of radicle emergence and mean just germination time predict seed vigour of Avena sativa and Elymus nutans. Seed Science and Technology 44(1): 189-198
10. Marcos-Filho M (2015). Seed vigour testing: an overwiew of the past, present and future perspectives. Scientia Agricola 72(4): 363-374
11. Matthews S (1985). Physiology of seed aging. Outlook on Agriculture 14(2): 89-94
12. Matthews S, Powell A A & Spaeth S C (1988). Seedling vigour and susceptibility to disease and pests. In World Crops: Cool Season Food Legumes, (ed. R.J. Summerfield), 619-625, Kluwer Academic Publishers Group, The Netherlands Matthews S & Powell A A (2006). Electrical conductivity vigour test: physiological basis and use. Seed Testing International, 131: 32-35
13. Matthews S & Powell A A (2011). Towards automated single counts of radicle emergence to predict seed and seedling vigour. Seed Testing International 142: 44-48
14. McDonald M B (1999). Seed deterioration: physiology, repair and assessment. Seed Science and Technology 27(1): 177-237
15. Ozden E, Ozel K, Kapcak D, Memis N & Demir I (2017). The Effect of Priming Plus Vermicompost on Seed Quality and Seedling Performance of Dill (Anethum graveolens L). In: Proceedings of the 1st International Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 10-12 May, Konya, Turkey, pp. 421-424
16. TeKrony D M (2003). Precision is an essential component in seed vigour testing. Seed Science and Technology 31(2): 435-477
17. Matthews S & Powell A A (2006). Electrical conductivity vigour test: physiological basis and use. Seed Testing International, 131: 32-35