EFFECTS OF SOAKING, SEED MOISTURE CONTENT, TEMPERATURE AND SEED LEAKAGE ON GERMINATION OF FABA BEANS (VICIA FABA) AND PEAS (PISUM SATIVUM)

Among four faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and four pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars, significant differences occurred in the amount of water imbibed by whole seeds and seeds with their seed coats removed. Furthermore, seed soaking significantly reduced germination and growth of seeds of cultivars within both species. Transverse cracking of the cotyledons (TVC) was a cultivar characteristic in faba beans that was negatively associated with germination, but was not a factor in the pea cultivars studied. Low seed moisture and low temperature during imbibition of water reduced seedling growth in faba beans and peas and reduced germination in faba beans. There were significant cultivar differences in both faba beans and peas in the amount of seed leakage after 24 h of soaking. In faba beans the cultivars with the greatest TVC showed the greatest leakage. Smooth-seeded peas leaked more than wrinkle-seeded peas used in the study.