Studies on the Rapid Methods for Evaluating Seed Vigor of sweet Corn
Since the germination test is still the main method for evaluating seed vigor of sweet corn, it is necessary to study the rapid methods for evaluating their vigor. First, two vigor levels of 9 super sweet corn and 9 sugar enhanced corn hybrids were distinguished by accelerated ageing treatment. Next, their vigor statuses were tested by rapid methods such as electrical conductivity (EC), soluble sugar (SS), volatile aldehyde (VA), dehydrogenase activity (DA) and Q2 oxygen sensing technology. Correlation relationship was analyzed between the above tested values and vigor performances. The results showed that EC, SS, VA, DA, oxygen metabolism rate (OMR), critical oxygen pressure (COP) were all suitable to evaluate seed vigor of sweet corn. Furthermore, VA was optimal for evaluating seed vigor of super sweet corn. DA was optimal for evaluating sugar enhanced corn.
Combining vigor test results for prediction of final stand of shrunken-2 sweet corn seed
Supersweet sweet corn (Zea mays L.) based on the shrunken-2 gene suffers from low and erratic field emergence and seedling survival. The purpose of this project was to find seed vigor test highly correlated with final stand count, and to combine tests to form a multiple regression model for prediction of final stand. Forty-nine commercial seed lots (and one noncommercial lot) obtained in 1988 and 48 lots obtained in 1989 were planted in the field the next year (.)
EFFECT OF SEED SIZE ON GERMINATION, SEEDLING VIGOR, ELECTROLYTE LEAKAGE, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF BIRD’S-FOOT TREFOIL (Lotus corniculatus L.)
Seed viability, seedling vigor, and field establishment were measured on five seed sizes from five commercial, Certified seed lots of bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L. ’Leo’). Viability as determined by percent germination at 20 °C varied among seed lots and among seed sizes, but a consistent relationship between viability and seed size was not observed. Similarly, speed of germination did not vary in response to seed size but did vary among lots. Within a seed lot, seedling length after 7 days growth varied in response to seed size; the larger seeds produced longer seedlings. However, this relationship was not observed among seed lots because seed lots with the highest average seed weight did not produce the longest seedlings. The seedling vigor ranking on the basis of electrolyte leakage differed if leakage was expressed relative to seed weight or the seed number. Leakage per 100 seeds was significantly and negatively correlated with percent germination, but not with seedling length or field es...