scholarly journals Seed Quality as Related to Harvest Time in Three Key Perennial Grasses Native to Puna Tussock Rangelands of Peru

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Jimy Castro ◽  
Lucrecia Aguirre ◽  
Roberto Distel

Seed-based rehabilitation programs represent a primary foundation for rangeland recovery, which requires high-quality seed of key native species. The objective of this research was to determine the seed quality at different harvest times for three key perennial grasses native to puna tussock rangelands of Peru: Festuca dolichophylla, Festuca humilior, and Calamagrostis vicunarum. Seeds of each species were harvested at 21, 28, and 35 days after anthesis and evaluated by standard tests to determine the purity, size, viability, and germinability. On average, the seed purity of the studied species ranged between 23% and 44%, hundred-seed weight between 34 mg and 73 mg, seed viability between 24% and 60%, and the seed germination between 18% and 34% over the harvest dates. The highest seed quality was observed in C. vicunarum. Seed quality parameters of the studied species did not show a consistent variation over the harvest times. Overall, the species studied presented relatively low seed quality; therefore, when using it in rehabilitation programs for rangeland recovery, it is important to carry out a previous cleaning process (to reduce nonviable seeds and inert matter) and to use a sufficient quantity of seed for effective establishment of these key grasses.

Author(s):  
Sunil Kumar ◽  
Suryapal Singh ◽  
S. S. Jakhar

An experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of fungicides and packaging materials on longevity of chilli (variety: RCH-1) and brinjal (variety: Hisar Shyamal) seeds. The seeds were treated with 15 fungicides and were kept in three containers viz. Metal box, Cloth bag and Plastic zipling bag up to 12 months under ambient conditions in seed pathology laboratory of Department of Seed Science & Technology, CCSHAU, Hisar, India. The samples were drawn at quarterly intervals for ascertaining the seed quality parameters. The seeds treated with flusilazole and carbendazim (2 g kg-1 seed) in case of chilli and brinjal and stored in metal-box were found better for maintenance of higher seed quality parameters [electrical conductivity and dehydrogenase activity] during the study period. The study suggested that use of appropriate packaging material and seed treatment could be useful to prolong the storage life of chilli and brinjal seeds.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Njehoya Clémence-Aggy ◽  
Ntchapda Fidèle ◽  
Kana Jean Raphael ◽  
Etchu Kingsley Agbor ◽  
Sita R. Ghimire

AbstractUrochloa (syn. Brachiaria) is the most popular fodder of livestock farmers in Cameroon for hay and seed productions. Farmers in Cameroon have been producing Brachiaria seeds for decades for own uses and surplus are sold to neighbours, and to traders from Cameroon and neighbouring countries. However, there is no information available about qualities of these seeds. Fifteen Urochloa seeds samples were collected from farmers and/or government stations in five regions (Adamaoua, East, North, North West, and West) and analysed for major seed quality parameters along with seeds of improved Urochloa cultivar Basilisk imported from Brazil as a check. Study showed significant differences among treatments for various seed quality parameters tested (P < 0.0001). The highest thousand grains weight was recorded in Basilisk (5.685 g), followed by W12 (3.555 g), A05 (3.153 g) and N01 (2.655 g). Caryopsis number and caryopsis weight were highest in Basilisk followed by E09, A06, and W12. Of three conditions tested for seed germination, mean germination was the highest in greenhouse (7.39%) where Basilisk had the highest germination (25.5%) followed by N01 (18.50%), A05 (14.50%) and W12 (12.75%). The seed viability ranged from 18% (E09) to 81% (N01), and there were a positive and highly significant relationships between seed germination and viability traits (r = 0.883; P < 0.0001). This study showed a marked difference in seed quality parameters of Urochloa grass seeds produced in Cameroon, and the potential of developing Urochloa grass seed business in the Northern, Adamaoua and Western regions of Cameroon.


Author(s):  
Koffi Bertin Yao ◽  
Manéhonon Martine Beugré ◽  
Koffi Adjoumani ◽  
N’Goran Delphine Koffi ◽  
Tanoh Hilaire Kouakou

Aims: In an attempt to improve the yields of Citrullus lanatus’s wlêwlê oilseed cultivar, generally low due to the lack of good germination seeds, the effect of fruit age at harvest and fermentation methods were studied. The present study is a contribution to the improvement the African oleaginous Cucurbits seed production system by optimizing the date of harvest combined to seed fermentation methods through enhancement of seed germination and seedling vigor. Study Design: Seedling vigor was evaluated on farm trial using five completely randomized blocks represented by seedbeds constituting each, one replication. Place and Duration of Study: The trials were carried out from July to December 2020, at the experimental farm of the Nangui Abrogoua University in the district of Abidjan, southern of Côte d'Ivoire between 5°17' and 5°31' North latitude and between 3°45' and 4°31' West longitude. Methodology: Fruits from grown plants were harvested at five different times  20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 days after anthesis (DAA)] and seeds fermented following four methods  fermentation at ambient air (SFA); fermentation in a plastic bag exposed at ambient air (SFB); fermentation in plastic bag buried in 30 cm depth (SFD) and control or non-fermented (NF)]. Seeds from these 20 treatments (5 harvest time × 4 fermentation methods) were sown for viability tests in laboratory and seedling vigor in the field. Results: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that delaying harvest time (from 20 to 40 DAA) significantly (P < .001) improved fruit weight (from 512.20 to 760.50 g) and its seed content (from 71.75 to 230.70 seeds/fruit), seed size (length: 10.69 to 11.42 mm and width: 5.31 to 5.90 mm) and weight (5.16 to 6.37 g) as well as their viability (from 67.75 to 89.50 %). Moreover, in spite of facilitating seed extraction, all three fermentation methods (SFA, SFB and SFD) significantly improved seed viability and seedling vigor compared to control (NF) seeds. The highest agronomic performance (seed viability and produced seedling vigor), was obtained with fermentation under closed and deep confinement (SFD), followed by the closed confinement (SFB) and then by the open environment (SFA). Positive interaction (harvest time × fermentation method) revealed that the best performance was achieved with later harvested seeds (40 DAA) and closed fermented seeds (SFD) which could provide a better seed quality. Conclusion: Agronomic performances (viability and vigor) are influenced by both harvest date and fermentation method. Late harvesting of the fruit (40 DAA) and fermentation in a very confined deep soil condition (SFD) ensures the production of high germination quality seeds.


1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (6) ◽  
pp. 1051-1054 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.K. Forney ◽  
D.E. Halseth ◽  
W.C. Kelly

Four planting and harvest dates yielded 16 lots of `Ruddy' red kidney beans (Phaseofus vulgaris L.) that were canned immediately after harvest in the fall and from storage in January and April. Late planting resulted in a high percentage of acceptable beans, but time of harvest had little effect on subsequent canning quality. The most important defect was transverse splitting from the hilum. Hilum splits, drained weight, cooked weight, and seed size were all negatively correlated with acceptability. Seed size was the most important factor determining quality, with the smallest seeds exhibiting the fewest splits. Length of storage had significant but small effects on canned seed quality.


Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brar ◽  
Kaushik ◽  
Dudi

This research was performed for a period of three years to determine the effect of natural seed ageing on different physiological and biochemical changes in three extensively cultivated onion cultivars in Northern India. Seed storage studies showed that germination percent, seed viability and other seed quality parameters decreased significantly with increasing storage time. The onion seed can be stored for a maximum period of one year under ambient conditions to maintain required germination percentage (>70%). Overall, Hisar Onion-4 stored better when compared to Hisar Onion-3 and Hisar-2. As the ageing progressed the seed antioxidants, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), dehydrogenase (DHA) and peroxidase (POD) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in all cultivars whereas, the electrical conductivity (EC) of seed leachates increased significantly. Under the field conditions, seedling establishment percent (SE) onion seed was positively correlated (R2 = 0.98; p < 0.05) with germination percent (GP). Overall, more than one year period of seed storage was associated with poor germination and seedling establishment potential in onion.


Author(s):  
Sunil Kumar ◽  
S. S. Jakhar

An experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of fungicides and packaging materials on longevity of chilli seed (variety: RCH-1). The seeds were treated with 15 fungicides and were kept in three containers viz. Metal box, Cloth bag and Plastic zipling bag up to 12 months under ambient conditions in seed pathology laboratory of Department of Seed Science & Technology, CCSHAU, Hisar, India. The samples were drawn at quaterly intervals for ascertaining the seed quality parameters. The seeds treated with flusilazole (2 g kg-1 seed) and stored in metal-box were found better for maintenance of higher seed quality parameters [germination, root length, shoot length, mean seedling dry weight, vigour indices] during the study period. The study suggested that use of appropriate packaging material and seed treatment could be useful to prolong the storage life of chilli seeds.


Author(s):  
B. Vaidya P. B. Sable ◽  
V. B. Patil

The study revealed that China aster seeds lose viability quickly if stored under ambient conditions. At the end of 12th months, seeds stored at refrigerated condition (5-70C) still maintained high seed germination (64.00%) at field condition well above the minimum seed certification standards. However, in case of ambient storage very drastic reduction in seed germination was observed. It was 32.43 % for first months and reduced to 14.95 % for second month by declining 53.90% as compared to first month and thereafter no germination was recorded at field condition. Results from the interaction effect indicated that previously stored seeds of China aster for six months in aluminium foil and kept under refrigerated condition recorded higher seed quality parameters viz. percent seed germination at field (92.67 and 72.00%), percent survival of seedlings (89.33 and 70.67%), height of seedling (11.53 and 8.60 cm), shoot length (7.00 and 5.10 cm), root length (4.53 and 3.50 cm), shoot weight (0.42 and 0.33 g), root weight (0.040 and 0.027 g), root:shoot ratio (0.095 and 0.082) and percent seed germination at laboratory (97.33 and 76.00%) for first and sixth month, respectively.


Author(s):  
Ravindra Kumar ◽  
Anuja Gupta ◽  
Kumkum Verma

Background: Pulses are very crucial to meet the requirements of dietary proteins in the human diet especially for the predominantly vegetarian population in India. Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) are important pulses grown in India. The seeds of these crops are highly vulnerable to various microorganisms, both in the field and during storage, which play an important role in reducing the seed viability, germination and vigour causing considerable loss in yield and quality. There is no suitable recommendation available to maintain seed quality during storage of pulses, hence present study was undertaken. Methods: Seeds of pigeonpea and chickpea were treated with Captan and Carbendazim 50% WP fungicides @ 2.0 g/Kg of seed and stored under ambient condition. The samples were drawn at three months interval to assess the effect of storage on seed quality parameters. The vigour index I, seed germination and speed of germination of these seed samples were determined using ISTA rules. The detection of seed mycoflora in pigeonpea and chickpea seed samples was carried out by the blotter test as recommended by the International Seed Testing Association. Result: Total sixteen fungal species were recorded on stored seeds. Maximum incidence of Aspergillus fumigatus (19.83%), A. flavus (14.88%), A. niger (12.40%), Alternaria alternata (11.57%), Fusarium oxysporum (8.26%), Rhizopus stolonifer (7.44%) and Penicillium notatum (5.79%) were recorded on untreated seed of pigeonpea cv. P. 2001 after 18 months of storage. The per cent germination, speed of germination and vigour index of the stored seeds decreased with the increase in the storage period whereas the total number of fungi increased with the storage period, irrespective of treatments. Among the tested cultivars, germination in pigeonpea (cv. P. 991) remained above IMSCS ( greater than 75%) upto 18 months of storage under ambient storage condition. However, the germination of pigeonpea cv. P. 2001 seed could be maintained above IMSCS ( greater than 75%) up to 12 months only. In chickpea (local cultivar) seed, the germination remained above IMSCS ( greater than 85%) up to 9 months only under ambient storage, however seed treatment with either Captan or Carbendazim could prolong the longevity upto 12 months of storage.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-100
Author(s):  
Shahnaj Yesmina ◽  
Moushumi Akhtarb ◽  
Belal Hossain

The experiment was conducted to find out the effect of variety, nitrogen level and harvesting time on yield and seed quality of barley. The treatments used in the experiment consisted of two varieties viz. BARI Barley 4 and BARI Barley 5, three harvesting time viz. 35, 40 and 45 Days after Anthesis (DAA) and nitrogen levels viz. 0, 70, 85 and 100 kg N ha-1 . The experiment was laid out in a spilt- spilt-plot design with three replications assigning the variety to the main plot, harvesting time to the sub-plots and nitrogen level to the sub-sub plots. Variety had significant effects on the all yield attributes except fertile seeds spike-1 . Seed quality parameters viz. normal seeds spike-1 , deformed seeds spike-1 , germination (%) and vigour index were statistically significant. The variety BARI Barley 5 produced higher grain yield and seed quality than BARI Barley 4. Grain yield from BARI Barley 5 and BARI Barley 4 were 4.59 t ha-1 and 4.24 t ha-1 , respectively. Significantly, the highest 1000-seed weight (46.90 g) was produced by BARI Barley 5 than (37.90 g) BARI Barley 4. The result revealed that harvesting time had significant effect on yield and yield attributes and seed quality parameters. Seed yield was highest (4.65 t ha-1 ) when the crop harvested at 40 DAA and it was increased linearly from 35 DAA. Maximum quality seed and 1000-seed weight (43.20 g) was obtained when the crop harvested at 40 DAA. All the yields, yield attributes and seed quality parameters were significantly influenced by nitrogen levels. The highest grain yield (5.14 t ha-1 ) was obtained when BARI Barley 5 variety was fertilized by 100 kg N ha-1 and the lowest (3.14 t ha-1 ) was obtained from control treatments. Normal seeds spike-1 , vigour index, germination (%) were better at 85 kg N ha-1 in variety of BARI Barley 5 than BARI Barley 4. So it can be concluded that BARI Barley 5 showed better result when fertilized with 100 kg N ha-1 and harvested at 40 DAA for getting maximum yield and 85 kg N ha-1 and harvested at 40 DAA for getting better quality seed.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 849
Author(s):  
Cecilio F. Caldeira ◽  
Madson O. Lima ◽  
Silvio J. Ramos ◽  
Markus Gastauer

Native species may have adaptive traits that are advantageous for overcoming the adverse environmental conditions faced during the early stages of mine land rehabilitation. Here, we examined the nitrogen (N) growth responses of two native perennial grasses (Axonopus longispicus and Paspalum cinerascens) from canga in nutrient-poor iron mining substrates. We carried out vegetative propagation and recovered substantial healthy tillers from field-collected tussocks of both species. These tillers were cultivated in mining substrates at increasing N levels. The tillering rates of both species increased with the N application. Nonetheless, only in P. cinerascens did the N application result in significant biomass increase. Such growth gain was a result of changes in leaf pigment, stomatal morphology, gas exchanges, and nutrients absorption that occurred mainly under the low N additions. Reaching optimum growth at 80 mg N dm−3, these plants showed no differences from those in the field. Our study demonstrates that an input of N as fertilizer can differentially improve the growth of native grasses and that P. cinerascens plants are able to deposit high quantities of carbon and protect soil over the seasons, thus, making them promising candidates for restoring nutrient cycling, accelerating the return of other species and ecosystem services.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document