engleski

Influence of alfalfa seed size on quality properties

It is known that seed size affectes quality properties (Ujević, 1988., Kolak, 1994., Martinčić, 1991., Guberac, 1996.). In order to determine influence of alfalfa cultivars on seed size as well as seed size effect on germination energy, number of hard, abnormal and diseased seed the investigation waw carried out on four cultivars seeds (Vuka, OS-Sz, OS-90, Stela), which was separated after harvest 1998 (third year of production). The investigated cultivars yielded seeds as follows: Vuka 432, 6 kg/ha, OS-Sz 251, 7 kg/ha, OS-90 497, 9 kg/ha and Stela 536, 6 kg/ha. Each cultivar seed was separated on sieves (of round diameter) in three fractions: >1, 50 ; 1, 50-1, 40 and <1, 40 mm. Statistically very significant differences were obtained in TSW (thousand seed weight) between seed fractions and cultivars. TSW of the largest fraction was 2, 26 g and the smallest one 1, 85 g. Cultivar Stela had the smallest (1, 99 g) and cultivar Vuka largest (2, 11 g) weight of 1000 seeds. The most dominant was the largest fraction 50-58 % depending on a cultivar whereas the smallest fraction representation amounted 30-38%. Alfalfa seed plumpness statistically considerably affected germination energy. The largest fraction 76, 38 % had the highest germination energy that was decreasing as seed size was increasing. Thus germination energy of the smallest fraction was 69, 31 %. This indicator was proved by statistically very significant difference between the investigated cultivars. The highest germination energy had cultivar OS-90. The same trend was achieved at total germination without hard seeds.Share of hard seeds is the highest in the smallest fraction 22, 25 % and lowest in the largest one (13, 88 %) that was statistically very significant. The investigated cultivars showed statistically very significant differences per hard seeds content although they were all grown in the same agroecological conditions. The highest share of hard seeds had Stela cultivar (21, 75 %) and the lowest one OS-90 cultivar (12, 92 %). Seed plumpness did not affect share of diseased seed and abnormal seedlings. The least abnormal seedlinds were optained with Vuka cultivar that was statistically significant compared to other investigated cultivars.

alfalfa; seed; fraction; thousand seed weight; germination energy; hard seed

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