New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

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Improvement in germination behaviour of Paspalum dilatatum Poir. seeds under different pre-conditioning treatments

G. E. SCHRAUF
P. S. CORNAGLIA
V. A. DEREGIBUS
M. G. RíSSOLA

Cátedra de Forrajicultura
Facultad de Agronomía
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Av. San Martín 4453
1417 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract  Poor germination and slow establishment of Paspalum dilatatum Poir. seeds hinder the inclusion of this species in cultivated pastures. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to test the effect of different pre-sowing treatments, aimed at improving germination and field emergence. Although initial and total germination at 25deg.C improved when seeds were mechanically scarified, the expected increase in water uptake was not observed. Alternating temperatures (20-35deg.C) increased total germination of both control and pre-treated seeds. Osmopriming with polyethylene glycol (PEG, 20 or 30% solution) improved initial and total germination of seeds, even at 20-35deg.C (the best germination temperature). Further experiments performed to evaluate different pre-imbibition and germination conditions on several seed sources determined it was better to osmoprime dried seeds at 20-35deg.C. The highest seedling establishment and tillering rates in the field were achieved by pre-germinated and osmoprimed seeds. Other possible physiological effects of osmopriming Paspalum dilatatum seeds are also discussed.

Keywords  germination; Paspalum dilatatum Poir.; seedling establishment; osmopriming; pre-soaking; scarification

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1995, Vol. 38: 501-509

0028-8233/95/3804-0501 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1995

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (674K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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