Effect of moisture content and maturity on hardseededness and germination in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

摘要

Hardheadedness is induced in the wild and the majority of seeds of the cultivated okra. Seed moisture content was highly significantly affected by cultivar and seed maturity. Seed moisture content within each cultivar significantly decreased with the increase in seed maturity. Averaged over seed maturity, Higairat had the highest moisture content percentage. On the other hand, Afreeta had the lowest moisture content percentage. Effect of interaction between cultivar and seed maturity on seed moisture content was not significant. Germination percentage and hard seed percentage were significantly affected by cultivar and seed maturity in both seasons. Averaged over cultivars, percentage germination increased significantly as harvest time was delayed. There was a significant interaction between seed maturity and cultivar on germination percentage. Cultivar and seed maturity had a highly significant effect on hard seed percentage of okra. Percentage of hard seed increased significantly as harvest time was delayed. The results also showed a significant interaction between cultivar and seed maturity on hard seed percentage. The correlation between seed moisture content, seed germination and hard seed percentage was highly significant. Moisture content was correlated positively to germination percentage (0.98) and negatively to hard seed percentage (-0.97), while germination percentage was negatively correlated to hard seed percentage (-0.99). To analyze further, the relationship between seed moisture, germination percentage and hard seed percentage linear regression parameter and coefficient of determination were calculated. Linearity test showed that the relationship between moisture content and germination percentage and hard seed percentage was linear.