Cottonseed Density: Associated Germination and Seedling Emergence Properties¹

Abstract

Recent studies have indicated that separation of cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.) for improvement in seed quality should be based on seed density rather than seed size or weight. Seed density is closely related to embryo maturity and is more independent of genotype than are other seed properties. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of seed density on some of the processes associated with cottonseed germination and seedling establishment of several cultivars. Acid delinted seed were separated into four density groups using a pneumatic separator. Rate of imbibition, quantity and quality of material leached from the seed, rate of radicle elongation, germination and seedling emergence percentages were measured as indicators of seed quality and seedling vigor potential. Germination percentages were directly related to both seed density and seed weight, with the better correlation existing with seed density. The rates of imbibition and radicle elongation were related to seed density within a cultivar with differences existing between cultivars. A slower rate of radicle elongation was observed for the highest density class during the first 2 to 3 days of germination, which was related to a decreased rate of imbibition during the first 8 hours of contact with water. The quantity of soluble sugars, Ca, and K leached from the seed during imbibition was inversely related to seed density, suggesting interferences existed during seed development or deterioration had occurred in the low density seed. Seed density was highly related to rate of emergence, total emergence, and seedling survival under both growth chamber and field conditions. The results obtained suggest that seed density is the best predictor of cottonseed germination, emergence and potential seedling vigor. Seed separation for improvement in seed quality should be based on density rather than other seed properties.

Lecythis pisonis Cambess (sapucaia): seed morphometric traits and germinative response

“…The germination (shoot emergence) of seeds of sapucaia with density ≥ 0.901g.L -1 was > 60% and it was null at density classes < 0.701 g.L -1 . The relation between seed density and germination capacity is known, and the results found here are similar, for example, to those found by Krieg and Bartee (1975), who reported that the germination of seeds of Gossypium hirsutum L. is positively related to seed density. These authors also reported that the cotton seed quality depends more on seed density than on seed size or weight, and that density is closely related to the embryo maturity status, being more independent of genotype than other seed trait.…”

THE EFFECTS OF SEED SIZE AND SEED DENSITY ON GERMINATION AND VIGOR IN SOYBEAN (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

“…In several studies, genetically small seeds have been shown to have superior viability (Calero et al 1981;Nangju 1979;Singh et al 1978). Green et al (1965) (McDonald 1975), cotton (Gossypiumhirsuturn L.) (Krieg and Bartee 1975), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) (Maranville and Clegg 1977) (Woodstock 1973;McDonald 1975), and the conductivity test (McDonald 1975 In exps. 1,2, and 3 the current level per seed, as measured in the single seed conductivity test (A5,{-610) (Table 3), was found to increase as seed size increased.…”

Inheritance of seed physical traits in upland cotton under different temperature regimes

“…Physical seed traits such as the seed index, the seed volume and seed density are all determinants of seed vigour (Ferguson and Turner, 1971;Krieg and Bartee, 1975;Minton and Supak, 1980;Leffler and Williams, 1983), and in cotton all strongly influence crop stands, growth and seed cotton yield (Minton and Supak, 1980;Hofmann et al, 1988). The seed index (the weight of 100 seeds) is related to seed cotton yield (Rahman et al, 1991), while the number of seeds per boll is recognised as the largest contributor to lint yield after the number of bolls per unit area (Worley et al, 1974(Worley et al, , 1976.…”