Evaluating sorghum seed vigor
2005
Burris, J.S.
Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Monench] seed is often tested for vigor in addition to the standard germination test. Often the same tests that are used for hybrid maize are used for sorghum. The range in correlation between these tests and field performance is varied and depends upon the stress level present in the field. The causes of the vigor differences in sorghum are similar to those of other crops; however, evaluating vigor in sorghum can be confounded by the presence of a transient dormancy. Further, sorghum has, in general, received less total research than maize. Some data suggests that traditional laboratory seedling vigor tests used for other crops may not apply as well to sorghum. Genetic influence on seedling vigor appears to be a potential area for breeders to screen cultivars as well as for laboratory applications to predict seedling vigor. Factors such as seed size, membrane integrity and response to seed maturation temperature impact the resultant sorghum seed vigor. Since mitochondria are sensitive to stresses in the production environment and receive maternally inherited qualities, this may be an area that could be developed for laboratory evaluation of sorghum seed vigor. High vigor seed possess an abundant supply of intact and protected mitochondria which upon imbibition are able to immediately begin oxidative phosphorylation and generate the energy needed to support growth and development.
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