Abstract
Abstract New Zealand export sales of prairie grass seed (cv. Grasslands Matua) suffered a check because of the failure of some seed lots to maintain their germination during shipping. Several seed quality factors were evaluated to determine the possible cause of this germination decline, and seed moisture content (SMC) and seed vigour were further investigated. Three seed lots which differed in vigour were stored under nine different temperature and relative humidity (RH) regimes (10,20, 30°C each at 30, 60, 77.5% RH) and germination was tested after 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. The three RH regimes were designed to produce SMCs of 9.5, 11.5,and 14.5%. A SMC of14% had been considered safe for 'Grasslands Matua'. However, at this SMC, germination was significantly reduced after 12, 6, and 1 months' storage at 10, 20, and 30°C respectively, and at the latter two temperatures, seed was dead after 12 and 3 months' storage. Germination of seed at the two lower SMCs was maintained for 18 months at both 10 and 20...
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