Volume 5, No. 1, 1980 – Seed Technology Journal

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(pp. 1-16)
Pictures and Descriptions of Selected Seeds Not Illustrated in Agriculture Handbook 30
E. F. Wiseman and S. J. Hurst
ABSTRACT:
Descriptions and drawings of seeds not illustrated in Agriculture Handbook 30 are provided for the following 14 grass species: Aegilops cylindrica Host, Amphibromus neesii Steud., Briza minor L., Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scribn., Chloris verticillata Nutt., Deschampsia dunthonioides (Trin.) Munro ex Benth., Eriochloa aristata Vasey, Koeleria cristata (L.) Pers., Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus, Muhlenbergia racemosa (Michx.)
B.S.P., Panicum clundestinum L., Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash, Taeniatherum asperum (Simonkai) Nevski, Ischaemum rugosum Salisb.

Additional index words: spikelet, floret, caryopsis, glume, lemma.
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(pp. 17-25)
Seedling Length Day 3 - A Simple Rapid Technique for Evaluating Seedling Vigor of Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.)¹
C.S. Cooper, M . A. Hughes, and R . L. Ditterline²
ABSTRACT:
Birdsfoot trefoil has poorer seedling vigor than most pasture legumes. Lack of seedling vigor is often responsible for stand failure. Methods are needed which permit rapid screening of large populations in breeding programs for seedling vigor. We compared seedling length on a given day with speed of elongation (SE) as a criterion for estimating seedling vigor.

Correlations of these two criteria were made with growth in the greenhouse to 6 weeks of age with yield in the year of seeding, and with field vigor ratings. Seedling length on a given day was highly correlated with SE, but seedling length on day 3 accounted for more variability (highest R² values) than other seedling length measurements when used with other vigor criteria in multiple regression analysis to predict field forage yields.
Methods for measuring length on day 3 and for mass selection for seedling vigor are discussed. These techniques provide a simple rapid method for selecting vigor.

Additional index words: birdsfoot trefoil, seedling vigor, seed size, seedling vigor selection, seedling length.
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(pp. 26-31)
Tolerance of Crop Seeds to Cooling and Storage in Liquid Nitrogen (-196 C)¹P. C. STANWOOD
ABSTRACT:
Storage in liquid nitrogen (LN₂) has the potential of providing "indefinite" preservation of seed germplasm. Determining the tolerance of seeds of a given species and/or cultivar to LN₂ cooling and subsequent rewarming is the first step in establishing the feasibility of LN₂ storage. Seeds of 29 crops were directly exposed to LN₂ (-196 C) for periods up to 180 days. Of all species exposed, only sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), indicated any loss of viability after LN₂ storage.

Damage to sesame seeds was reflected by increased seedling abnormalities (stubby roots), which appeared to be associated with the cooling/rewarming cycle. Flax seeds were physically damaged (cracking of the seed coat and embryonic tissue) resulting in reduc ed germination.
Survival of the selections during LN₂ cooling and rewarming and a lack of damage to seed viability during extended storage strongly supports the feasibility of LN₂ preservation of many species.

Additional index words: ultracold, cryopreservation, preservation.
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(pp. 32-39)
Inhibition of Germination of Coffee Seeds (Coffea arabica L. cv. Mundo Novo) by the Endocarp
I. F. M. Valio¹ABSTRACT:
When coffee seeds are in an environment which does not contain microorganisms the endocarp inhibits germination. This inhibition is neither due to impermeability to water and gases nor to the presence of growth inhibitors but is probably caused by mechanical resistance.

Additional index words: dormancy, mechanical resistance to germination, dormancy mechanisms.
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(pp. 40-46)
Germination of Desert Needlegrass¹
James A. Young and Raymond A. Evans²
ABSTRACT:
The germination response of desert needlegrass was determined for 55 constant and alternating temperature regimes. The seeds tested were collected from native stands growing on rangelands in the Intermountain area. The germination response at the wide range of constant and alternating temperatures was used to construct quadratic response surfaces.

The surfaces were used to predict the germination of desert needlegrass in relation to temperature. For a native needlegrass species, the seeds were relatively germinable at a wide range of temperatures. Compared to known seedbed temperatures for rangelands, germination occurred at most moderate seed bed temperatures and a high proportion of cold seedbed temperatures, but was greatly reduced at widely fluctuating and warm seedbed temperatures. A constant 15 C appeared to be the most desirable temperature for testing the germination of this species.

Additional index words: Stipa speciosa, rangelands, quadratic response surfaces.
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(pp. 47-55)
Differentiation of Sorghum, Sudangrass, and Sorghum-Sudangrass Cultivars by Seedling Pigmentation Patterns¹
R. C. Payne, T.]. Koszykowski, and L. F. Morris²
ABSTRACT:
Sorghum, sudangrass, and sorghum-sudangrass cultivars were grown in the laboratory in sand culture under high light intensity. Cultivar related differences in coleoptile and shoot pigmentation were observed in seedlings denied nutrient applications. Seven cultivar specific seedling pigmentation patterns were recorded. Results indicate that identification of seedling pigmentation patterns is a valuable approach for differentiating sorghum cultivars. Inconsistent variations in seedling pigmentation patterns were detected when nutrients were applied to the seedlings.

Additional index words: Sorghum bicolor (L) M oench, Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf, cultivar differentiation, sand culture.
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(pp. 56-66)
ASA-610 Ability to Detect Changes in Soybean Seed Quality¹Miller B. McDonald, Jr. and Dale O. Wilson²
ABSTRACT:
The ASA-610 is a commercial instrument which reportedly has the capability to rapidly monitor soybean quality. To evaluate this capability, soybean seeds were subjected to increasing levels of mechanical impaction ( 1, 4, and 8 drops from 3 m) and accelerated aging (41 C, -100 % RH) for varying periods of time (1, 2, 3, 4 days). In both instances, as soybean seed deterioration increased, the ASA-610 detected changes in seed viability as measured by percent germination, seedling dry weight, and hypocotyl length. These results suggest that the ASA-610 can accurately assess soybean seed quality and may be useful in commercial seed testing programs.

Additional index words: Glycine max (L.) Merr., seed quality, seed vigor, seed deterioration.
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