Relationship between laboratory indices of soybean seed vigor with field emergence and yield

Abstract

This study was conducted for evaluation the correlation of laboratory seed quality indices with field emergence in 2013. First the standard germination test and seed vigor tests were conducted for of two cultivars (Williams and L17) which were produced in last year and also recent year and germination percent and seedling vigor index were measured. Then vigor tests including cold and accelerated aging tests were conducted. The laboratory experiments were done as a factorial experiment with two factors based on completely randomized design in 4 replications and field experiment was as a factorial experiment with two factors based on randomized complete block design in 4 replications. According to results germination percent and seedling vigor index had a high correlation with final seedling emergence percent and cumulative emergence rate. The seedling vigor index in cold test specified the highest correlation with final seedling emergence percent (r= 0.941) and cumulative emergence rate (r=0.756). The correlation of laboratory traits and yield related traits defined that standard germination percent (r=0.756) and seedling vigor index (r=0.711) in cold test showed a high correlation with final yield and the related traits to accelerated aging test had a lesser correlation.