Evaluation of seed quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under water limition induced by a partial root-zone irrigation regime

摘要

The effect of irrigation system and harvest time at different stages of seed development on the quality of wheat seeds was evaluated in a field experiment conducted in Aleshter, Iran. The experiment was carried out as a 2 x 5 factorial with three replications. The first factor was irrigation system (conventional irrigation and fixed partial root-zone irrigation) and the second was harvest time. Germination percentage, seedling dry weight, electrical conductivity and 1000-grain weight were used for determining seed quality. Seed quality attributes were significantly affected by harvest time, irrigation system and the interaction of irrigation system x harvest time. Wheat seeds reached their highest quality at the end of the seed filling-period, at 25 days after anthesis. Partial root-zone irrigation reduced seed quality, suggesting that for producing high quality seeds, wheat should not grow under limited water conditions during the seed filling-period.