Moisture level effect on seed longevity of wheat species representatives

Abstract

Аim. To determine the optimum moisture content and comparative longevity of seeds of wheat species accessions for long-term storage according to the results of the “accelerated seed aging” experiment. Results and Discussion. There was estimated seed longevity of the representatives of wheat species Triticum aestivum L., T. spelta L., T. durum Desf., T. dicoccum (Schrank) Schuebl., T. monococcum L., T. sinskajae A. Filat. et Kurk. of three reproduction years – 2014, 2016 and 2017, at three moisture levels – 5 %, 6 % and 7 % in the experiment with accelerated aging. Germination energy and germination rate depended on the year conditions, seed moisture, the interactions year – genotype, year – seed moisture and all three factors: year conditions, seed moisture, genotype (influence power from 16.1 to 20.1). Accelerated aging caused decrease in seed germination energy and germination rate in almost all samples at all three moisture levels. Under the accelerated aging, with an increase in seed moisture content from 5 % to 7 %, on average by the accessions, the seed germination energy (from 83 % to 63 %) and germination rate (from 90 % to 68 %) decreased on samples. At all three moisture levels, relatively high germination energy and germination rate after accelerated aging had T.monococcum (86-95 % and 88-97 %) and Polba 3 (74-96 % and 85-98 %). A low germination energy (66-69 % и 68-77 %) and germination rate showed T.sinskajae UA0300224 (66-69 %) and T.durum Spadschyna (56-75 % и 61-92 %). At all three seed moisture levels, the high plasticity of germination energy had T.sinskajae UA0300224 and T.durum Spadschina, germination rate – T.sinskajae. With all three seed moisture levels, T.sinskajae UA0300224 and T.aestivum Harkivska 26 were characterized by stable germination rate. Conclusions. The highest seed longevity of the studied accessions is provided by moisture of 5%, less but close longevity – the moisture of 6%. The least longevity in three test options had seeds with 7 % moisture content. Among studied accessions of wheat species most longevous seeds had T.monococcum UA0300439 and Polba 3. The seeds of T.sinskajae UA0300224 and T.astivum PI619379 were less longevous.