Changes in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) seed weight, viability, and vigour during development and following drying and priming
1996
Jett, L.W. | Welbaum, G.E. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg (USA). Department of Horticulture)
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) plants flower over an extended period. Fruit (silique) maturation is not concentrated, and seeds from many stages of development are combined into single seed lots during mechanical harvesting. Broccoli seed harvest could be optimized if the stage of development that produced the most viable and vigorous seeds was known. The viability and vigour of broccoli seeds before and after drying was examined from 14 to 56 days after pollination (DAP) in a greenhouse. Seed development at stylar and basal ends of the silique was also compared. Seeds from different stages of development were primed to determine whether priming improved the vigour of immature seeds. Maximum seed dry weight was attained 42 DAP, and maximum germination percentage was attained 56 and 42 DAP for fresh (non-dried) and dried or primed seeds, respectively. The maximum germination rate was attained 49 DAP for all treatments. There was no difference in viability or germination rate of seeds developing in the stylar or basal positions of the silique. Rapid drying increased viability of 35 and 42 DAP seeds in comparison to fresh seeds. Large seeds did not germinate faster than small seeds, but produced seedlings with greater dry weight. Priming increased the germination percentage at 42 DAP and germination rates of immature seeds and small, but not large, mature seeds. Priming caused developing seeds to germinate similar to more mature seeds and may improve the vigour of immature seeds in mechanically harvested seed lots
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]