Single counts of radicle emergence provides an alternative method to test seed vigour in sweet corn

摘要

Single counts of radicle emergence (RE) have revealed differences in maize seed vigour, but have not been related to seed vigour for sweet corn. The present study compared the counts of radicle emergence at 20 degrees C for 84 hours and at 13 degrees C for 150 hours, with results from the complex stressing vigour test (CSVT), cold test (CT), germination energy (GE), germination percentage (GP), germination index (GI), vigour index (VI) and mean germination time (MGT) using seven sweet corn seed lots. Counts of radicle emergence after 84 hours at 20 degrees C and 150 hours at 13 degrees C showed significant relationships with the six vigour assessments and germination percentage, and the correlation coefficients were all > 0.75 (P 0.05). The results suggest that single counts of radicle emergence could be used to test the seed vigour of sweet corn.