GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT IN RESPONSE TO SEED VIGOR AND SOWING DENSITIES

Julia Abati,Cristian Rafael Brzezinski,Fernando Augusto Henning,José Salvador Simoneti Foloni,Claudemir Zucareli

doi:10.1590/1983-21252018v31n411rc

Julia Abati, Cristian Rafael Brzezinski + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252018v31n411rc

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Abstract

ABSTRACT In wheat crops, it is often observed that the number of plants per area is lower than that of viable seeds used, which may be related to both environmental conditions and seed vigor. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of seed vigor level at different sowing densities on growth, development, and grain yield in wheat cultivars. The experiments were conducted in Londrina and Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil, under a randomized block design in a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial scheme, with four replications. Two seed vigor levels (high and low), two sowing densities (200 and 400 viable seeds per m2), and three wheat cultivars (BRS Sabiá, BRS Gaivota, and BRS Gralha Azul) were assessed. In order to assess growth and development, plant samples were collected at the phenological stages of seedling growth, stem elongation, booting, and ear emergence. We assessed the emergence of seedlings, height and dry matter of plant shoot, and grain yield. The sowing density of 200 seeds per m2 led to a higher shoot dry matter production per plant at the stages booting and ear emergence. The cultivar BRS Sabiá presented the highest grain yield in Londrina, while BRS Sabiá and BRS Gralha Azul presented the highest grain yield in Ponta Grossa. High vigor seeds favor stand establishment, growth and development of plants at early phenological stages, and grain yield of wheat.

Highlights

In order to exploit wheat yield potential and meet the domestic demand in Brazil, adequate strategies regarding crop management, choice of growing environments, promising genotypes, and high quality seeds are needed (BARNARD; CALITZ, 2013; COVENTRY et al, 2011; SILVEIRA et al, 2010).Among the attributes that compose seed quality, vigor plays an important role since high vigor seeds provide fast and uniform germination, favoring shoot and root growth and leading to better development conditions to plants, as well as a greater capacity to withstand adverse environmental conditions (BEWLEY et al, 2013)
Marcos Filho (2013) noticed that as crop phenological stages advance the influence of seed vigor tends to reduce and plant performance becomes more dependent on genotype-environment relationships
Melo et al (2006) observed that rice plants originated from high vigor seeds presented higher tillering, dry matter, leaf area, and grain yield when compared to low vigor seeds

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In order to exploit wheat yield potential and meet the domestic demand in Brazil, adequate strategies regarding crop management, choice of growing environments, promising genotypes, and high quality seeds are needed (BARNARD; CALITZ, 2013; COVENTRY et al, 2011; SILVEIRA et al, 2010). In addition to high quality seeds, it is necessary to adjust an adequate sowing density In this sense, it is not often observed the number of plants established per area corresponding to the number of viable seeds used, which may be related to both environmental conditions and seed vigor, factors less considered in wheat crop. Studies that relate the influence of seed vigor at the phenological stages and its effects on grain yield of wheat plants, as well as its interaction with other production factors, such as plant density, genotypes, and cultivation environments, are scarce In this sense, this study aimed to assess the effect of seed vigor level at different sowing densities on growth, development, and grain yield in wheat cultivars

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS