Influence of Different Seed Size Fractions on Seed Germination, Seedling Emergence and Seed Yield Characters in Tropical Soybean ( Glycine max L. Merrill)

摘要

Seed size is a component of seed quality which has impact on the performance of crop and variations exist in seed sizes among varieties. Seed size is a key factor in crop improvement. However, scarce information is available on relationship between seed size, seed quality and yield characters in elite tropical soybean. Therefore, the study was initiated to determine the influence of seed size on the seed quality traits, seed yield and yield components of five tropical soybean varieties. Seeds of each variety were graded into large (S1), medium (S2) and small (S3). The graded seeds were tested in the laboratory for seed germination and 100 seed weight and the same seed lots was then grown on the field and evaluated for seedling emergence, seed yield and yield characters. Variety TGx1485-ID consistently displayed superior 100- seed weight of between 12.18 and 16.64 g before sowing at each of the three seed sizes. M-351 variety with large seed size had maximum seed germination (100%) in all the three classes of seed and seedling emergence in large (95%) and medium seeds (93%). Lots with small seed size had maximum seed germination (97%) and emergence (90%) while those with large seed size produced the highest seed per plant (88), pods per plant (54) and seed yield per plant (9.72 g). It is suggested that seed grading could be done to separate small seeds for superior seed quality and large seed size for high seed yield s.