Effect of desiccation date on seed quality and yield in sunflower

Miklic, V.

Effect of desiccation date on seed quality and yield in sunflower

2001

Miklic, V.

A field experiment was conducted in sunflower seed plots established in five locations in the course of 1994, 1995 and 1996. The material tested were female components of hybrids NS-H-45, NS-H-111, NS-H-26 RM and NS-H-43. After the end of pollination, seed crops were treated with the preparation Reglone in the concentration of 1%, i.e., with the dose of 2 l/ha mixed with 200 liters of water/ha. Treatments were conducted at 7-day intervals. Optimum disiccation date was established on the basis of seed yield, 1000-seed mass, germination energy, viability, hisk percent, oil and protein contents and the dynamics of seed moisture reduction during maturation. The highest yield and 1000-seed mass were achieved in the treatment 21 days after flower, at the average moisture content in seed of 44.34%. As the yield began to stabilize somewhat earlier, 1000-seed mass remained the characteristic which was most limiting for desiccation date. High values of germination energy and seed viability were achieved earlier than in case of yield and 1000-seed mass. All characteristics under study were affected by the different dates of disiccation with Reglone. While the early desiccation tended to exert negative effects, the timely desiccation brought increases in yield, oil content, germination energy and viability as compared with the control variant. The optimum moment for desiccation varied in dependence of hybrid from 35% to over 40% moisture content in seed.

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