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Germination characteristics of seeds differing in mass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

P. Milberg ,
L. Andersson ,
C. Elfverson  and
S. Regnér
P. Milberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Production Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7043, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
L. Andersson
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Production Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7043, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
C. Elfverson
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7033, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
S. Regnér
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7033, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
*
*Correspondence
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Abstract

Germinability and the rate of germination were related to seed mass in Lithospermum arvense L. and Anchusa arvensis (L.) Bieb. Prior to germination experiments, seeds from two populations of each species had been sorted into nine similarly sized groups according to their seed mass. Germinability varied greatly among the different seed-mass fractions in L. arvense, while differences were smaller in A. arvensis. Germination rate varied with seed mass in some cases. However, in many cases where clear patterns in the relationship between germination characteristics and seed mass were found, these patterns differed both between species and between populations. Furthermore, the character of the relationship varied depending on the experimental conditions used. It is hard to identify the cause of these relations since within- and between-plant variability can affect both seed mass and germination characteristics independently. It is concluded that the results of a germination test can differ depending on the seed mass fractions used, but that the magnitude and direction of such differences are difficult to foresee. Therefore, seed batches should be prepared with care, and experiments designed with awareness of the importance of the germination conditions chosen.

Keywords

Anchusa arvensisdormancygerminabilitygermination rateLithospermum arvenseseed massseed size
Type
Ecology
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , December 1996 , pp. 191 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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