Seed harvesting in Lasiurus sindicus following hand-cutting seed heads

摘要

To workout the efficacy of hand-cutting seed heads method (modified method) in Lasiurus sindicus, intact racemes (spikes) were harvested during November 2002, March 2003, October 2003 and March 2004 at the time of initiation of opening in the few spikelets of upper portion as indicated by change in their colour to yellowish white. Simultaneously mature seeds were also picked from different spikes 6-7 times (traditional method). The mean seed germination percentage of October and November harvests wasat par in both the methods, while in March harvests this was almost double to the traditional method. The mean seed germination of the four periods in traditional and modified method was 36.0% and 23.7%, respectively whereas mean caryopsis germination was 64.3% and 42.8% respectively. Even though the germination was more in the seed harvest of traditional method, overall germinable seed recovery was 4-5 times more with modified method. Hence modified method is less labour intensive and cost effective.