Protein Content and Seed Size Relationships with Seedling Vigor of Wheat Cultivars¹

Abstract

The source of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed may affect crop growth and yield. Within a genotype, seed that has a higher protein content and/or is larger will produce more vigorous seedlings and sometimes higher yields. Spring and winter wheat seed collected from five cultivar trials grown at several different locations were used to determine the relative effect of genotype and environment on seed protein and seed size, and these factors were related to the dry weight of seedling shoots (vigor). Both environment and genotype affected the protein content of the seed. Regardless of genotype or environment, seedling vigor was consistently related to seed protein. Seedling vigor was also related to seed size, but when seed size was eliminated as a factor by using uniformly sized seed, the seed protein content and vigor relationships were significant.

Grain yield and seed quality of soybean selected for high protein content

“…Simpson & Wilcox (1983), analyzing soybean seeds in the F 6 and F 7 generations from crosses of high protein and high grain yielding varieties, found negative and significant correlation between protein content and physiological quality of the seeds for three out of four analyzed crosses, and the fourth cross showed very low correlation (0.07) between those characters. Positive and significant correlations between seed protein content and seedling vigor -determined by seedling weightwere found by Ries et al (1971), cited by , working on common bean, and by , and Ries & Everson (1973), working on wheat. It is worthy to mention that the data from those authors were relative to populations that produced high protein content due to the application of high levels of nitrogen, and not due to genetic breeding, as in the present case.…”

Craveiro-da-índia: características físicas das sementes e seus efeitos na germinaçao e desenvolvimento vegetativo

“…Em outras espécies botâ-nicas, estudos semelhantes mostraram que sementes maiores apresentaram índices_ superiores (AUSTENSON & WALTON, 1970;RIES & EVERSON, 1973;FRAZÃO et al, 1983). Entretanto, o valor de germinação final do craveiro-da-índia (35 dias) foi bastante afetado pelo tamanho da semente; as grandes e médias mostraram germinação superior às do lote original e, as pequenas, os menores valores.…”

Biological productivity and composition of groundnut in relation to seed size

“…In wheat, larger seeds tend to produce more vigorous seedlings (Ries, Everson 1973). Germination rate and seedling vigour index values increase with seed size suggesting, the selection of larger seeds for good stand establishment in rice plants (Roy et al 1996).…”