Relationship between viability and vigor seed tests and field emergence of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] by using regression analysis

Abstract

Dept. of Field Crop Sci. - College of Agriculture/ University of Baghdad Abstract Viability and vigor seed tests and field emergence were conducted for two cvs. of sorghum Inqath and Rabeh [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in spring and fall seasons of 2005. The objective of this study was to predict field emergence via viability and vigor seed tests in addition to know which one of laboratory tests was closer to predict field emergence. Regression analysis was conducted on the basis that the independent variable was viability and vigor seed tests and the dependent variable was field emergence. The regression analysis showed a significant positive relationship between field emergence for Inqath cv. in spring season and normal seedling percentage of first count, standard germination, and cold tests. Higher value for this relationship was with standard germination, while all regression relationships under study between viability and vigor seed tests and field emergence for Rabeh in spring season and for Inqath and Rabeh in fall season were not significant. Data of germination methods under study in addition to field emergence were analyzed according to the randomized complete block design (one way) with four replications. LSD was used to compare arithmetic means. Analysis of variance for studied germination methods showed significant difference between each one of the laboratory germination methods under study and field emergence for Inqath and Rabeh cvs. in spring season except cold test where differences between them were not significant. This means that the cold test was closer to predict the field emergence for both cvs. in spring season, while the differences were significant between field emergence for Inqath cv. only in fall season and each one of laboratory germination methods under study except first count test which the deference between them were not significant. This means that the first count test was closer to predict the field emergence for Inqath cv. only in fall season. Some results of analysis of variance were consistent with results regression of analysis and others were inconsistent. Also clear deference was found between results of germination in laboratory and field in favor of germination in laboratory.