Evaluation of the Main Local Field and Vegetable Crops Seeds in the Western Zone of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract. Seeds of three local varieties from the field crops i.e. wheat (Baladi, Qassimi and Ucorra Rojo), alfalfa (Mekawi, Hassawi and Sabkhawi) and sesame (Mekawi, Gizan and Taefi) besides one local variety from the vegetable crops, tomatoes (Baladi), cucumber (Baladi) and eggplant (Baladi) were evaluated. Recommended partitioning processings were done on the seed samples to form the purity sample. Purity, moisture, germination and germination vigor tests were done according to ISTA (1993) and AOSA (1996). Purity of the wheat varieties ranged from 95,99% to 97,73% and for alfalfa varieties ranged from 87,89% of Sabkhawi to 92,52% of Makawi. Purity range of sesame varieties was 89,56% for Gizan cv, to 93,65% for Makawi. The highest weed was associated with alfalfa varieties: 5,94% in Hasawi and 5,54% in Sabkhawi varieties. As for vegetable crops varieties, the highest germination appeared in cucumber Baladi variety (98,21%), followed by eggplant Baladi variety (96,5%), then tomatoes Baladi variety (94,55%). Eggplant seeds had the highest weed seeds (0,80%), followed by cucumber (0,51%), then tomatoes (0,21%). As for lab germination test, Qassimi variety produced the highest significant value in wheat varieties (97,50%) and Makawi variety produced the highest value (95%) in alfalfa. In sesame varieties, Makawi variety had the highest germination (93,75%) but the highest abnormal seedling (5%) was produced from Taefi sesame variety, Under the salt stress irrigation, lab germination in wheat varieties ranged from 92,5% for Qassimi to 81,25% for Baladi variety, in alfalfa varieties the range was 87,5% to 82,5% and in sesame 92,25% to 75,75%. As for vegetable crops, the germination percentages were 88,43%, 91,75% and 76,61% for tomatoes, cucumber and eggplant, respectively. Under field conditions, the germination percentages were 62%, 36% and 23% for the previous three vegetable crops, respectively. The moisture content in wheat varieties ranged from 11,58% to 10,21% and in alfalfa from 8% to 7,5%, while in sesame seeds moisture content ranged from 4,9% for Makawi to 4,46% for Taefi variety. Moisture content in vegetable seeds was 8,71%, 7,75% and 7,53% for cucumber, tomatoes and eggplant varieties, respectively.