Laboratory Vigor Tests Used to Predict Pepper Seedling Field Emergence Performance
1990
Trawatha, Susan E. | Steiner, Jeffrey J. | Bradford, K. J. (Kent J.)
Few investigations have sought to determine the usefulness and repeatability of laboratory vigor tests as predictors of field seedling emergence for multiple locations and years for vegetable crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate a number of previously reported laboratory measures of seed viability and vigor tests that could be used alone, or in combination to reliably predict pepper (Capsicum anuuum L. var. annuum) seedling field emergence. Several indices of seed vigor also were used. The results of these tests were correlated with final field emergence percentages obtained from Davis and Fresno, CA in 1986 and 1987. Either 30 or 32 seed lots were used for each location and year. Measures of seedling growth were the best indicators of field performance and the cool-temperature (15 °C) percent germination at 14 d was the best overall average single-test predictor of field emergence for all locations and years. Improved predictions could be made by combining selected vigor tests in multiple regression modes, but these were location and year dependent. An index consisting of the geometric mean of cooltemperature percent germination (Day 14) and seedling dry weight was the best overall average predictor of seedling emergence, accounting for an average of 36% of the total variation in emergence. Simulation trials indicated that a ranking of field performance among seed lots could be done with good success using the geometric mean index. California Agric. Techn. Inst. Technical Paper no. 900502. This paper is supported in part by Western Regional Research Project, W-168 (Seed Production and Quality Investigations) and a grant from the California Pepper Improvement Foundation.
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