The development of seed quality in spring barley in four environments. II. Field emergence and seedling size

Abstract

Abstract The field emergence ability of a total of 88 seed lots of spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) harvested serially during development in 2 years was compared, as was the size of the resultant seedlings. For seedsproduced in each year, field emergence and the mean dry weight of emerged seedlings were significantly greater for seed lots harvested some timeafter physiological maturity (end of the seed-filling period) than for those harvested at or before this developmental stage. This is compatiblewith results for the potential longevity of these lots. It is concluded that barley seed quality continues to increase after physiological maturity, and that the developing seeds attain maximum quality (however this is assessed) close to when the seed crop can be combine harvested. Positive correlations were detected between seedling emergence and seed dry weight ( P <0.05) and between the mean dry weight of emerged seedlings and seed dry weight ( P <0.005) among seed lots harvested close to when maximum quality was attained in four seed production environments.