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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113836
Title: GERMINATION RESPONSES AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES OF PEARL MILLET GENOTYPES DIFFERING IN SEED SIZE

Author
item DAHIYA, 0 - HARYANA AG UNIV, INDIA
item PUNIA, R - HARYANA AG UNIV, INDIA
item BURTON, G - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Wilson, Jeffrey - Jeff

Submitted to: International Sorghum and Millets Newsletter
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/9/2000
Publication Date: 12/1/2000
Citation: Dahiya, 0.S., Punia, R.C., Burton, G.W., and Wilson, J.P. 2000. Germination responses at different temperatures of pearl millet genotypes differing in seed size. International Sorghum and Millets Newsletter 41:66-67.

Interpretive Summary: By developing forages that can grow during normally non-productive times, demands for forage may be met during periods of deficit. Pearl millet is a highly productive annual forage during the summer months, but generally performs poorly if planted early in cool soils. Seed size is often associated with seedling vigor. These experiments were conducted to determine if seed germination at cool temperatures was associated with see size. Variation for seed size and germination rate and percent germination existed among the selections, but germination at cool temperatures was not associated with large seeds. Selection for large seed size is not an effective method of improving germination of pearl millet seed at cool temperatures.

Technical Abstract: Pearl millet is a highly productive summer annual forage but is predisposed to soil-borne diseases when planted early in cool soils. Seed size is associated with seedling vigor, and the possibility exists that large seeded pearl millets may be more easily established in early planting. This experiment was conducted to determine if germination of seed at cool temperatures was associated with seed size. Fifty eight related pearl millet selections with 100 seed weight ranging from 0.93 to 1.97 g were germinated at 15, 20, and 30 C. Germination rate (days to 50% germination) and total germination were lowest at 15 C. Germination parameters at 15 C were positively correlated with total germination at all temperatures, but germination at higher temperatures were not consistently associated with low-temperature germinat tSeed weight was not correlated with germination parameters at any temperature. Seed size is an ineffective criterion to select for tolerance to early planting.