Effect of seed size on emergence rate, germination indices, seedling growth and yield of four bread wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.)

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

To study the effect of seed size on germination indices and seedling growth of four bread wheat varieties, a factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out in research field of Rice Research Institute of Iran during 2012-2013 and the other factorial experiment based on completely randomized design was conducted in agronomy laboratory of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan. Treatments in this study consist of four levels of seed diameter (2.25- 2.5 mm, 2.5- 2.75 mm, 2.75- 3 mm and larger than 3 mm) and cultivar (Kohdasht, Moghan 3, Morvarid and native). Results of field showed cultivar and seed size had significant effect on grain yield. Cultivar had not significant effect on emergence rate and seedling cumulative emergence rate, but seed size showed significant effect on this characteristics. The interaction in seedling emergence rate, seedling cumulative emergence rate and grain yield was not significant. Results of experiment showed cultivar had significant effect on all measured characteristics, but had not significant effect on seedling dry weight. Seed size had significant effect on all characteristics, except germination speed, shoot length and root length. The interaction of cultivar and seed size on germination percentage, germination speed, germination energy, shoot length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, seedling fresh weight and shoot dry weight was significant. Maximum and minimum amount of seedling dry weight respectively was 31.37 and 15.54 (mg) that related to seed size larger than 3 mm and seed size 2.25- 2.5 mm. According to results of this experiment seems that wheat seeds with size larger than 3 mm, because of priority in germination and seedling emergence is more suitable for cultivate.

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