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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #221036

Title: Seed health and vigor

Author
item Porter, Lyndon

Submitted to: Compendium of Chickpea and Lentil Diseases and Pests
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2011
Publication Date: 1/1/2011
Citation: Porter, L. 2011. Seed Health and Vigor. Compendium of Chickpea and Lentil Diseases and Pests. 6-7.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The health of lentil and chickpea seed greatly impacts the quality of the crop stand and yield. Healthy seed has a high germination rate, is whole (free of cracks or other damage), is free from foreign matter including weed seed and has limited seedborne pathogens. The health of the seed often depends on the moisture the crop receives at or near harvest. Seed vigor is described as the ability of a seed to consistently, rapidly and uniformly germinate at a high rate even under adverse weather conditions. Several factors such as avoidance of herbicide chemical damage, low release of seed leachates, and presence of genetic resistance to soilborne pathogens are associated with high seed vigor. Weak seedlings are more prone to soil and seedborne pathogens.