Promptness of Radicle Emergence as a Measure of Peanut Seed Vitality1

• Published in: Agronomy journal Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 248 - 250
• Main Author: Mixon, Aubrey C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society of Agronomy 01.03.1971
• Subjects: Radicle emergence; Seed vigor; Seed vitality
• ISSN: 0002-1962; 1435-0645
• DOI: 10.2134/agronj1971.00021962006300020016x

Peanut seed, Arachis hypogaea L., ‘Early Runner,’ from seed lots with different germination capabilities (standard germination) were evaluated for germination rate (promptness of radicle emergence), seedling emergence, and seedling vigor (dry weight). Daily radicle emergence for each of 3 days in a 25 C germinator revealed that the portion of seed that produced emerged radicles during the 1st or 2nd day resulted in quicker and greater seedling emergence and in more vigorous seedlings than did seed with radicles that emerged during the 3rd day. Plants in soil maintained at 21 ± 2 C were more vigorous when grown from seed with radicles that emerged in 1 day; but at the warmer soil temperature (27 ± 2 C), there was no difference in vigor of plants grown from seed with radicles that emerged after 1 or 2 days in the germinator. Plants from seed with radicles that emerged in 1 day emerged quicker and had greater dry weights when seed were planted 3.8 cm deep than when planted 7.6 cm deep. Differences in plant dry weight associated with planting depth were not apparent when plants were grown from seed that required 2 or 3 days for radicle emergence.