Viability and vigor of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. Hybrid) seeds from intrageneric and intergeneric crosses at various storage periods

Abstract

Sugarcane is one of the essential crops with high economic value in Indonesia, because it is the primary source of sugar. Sugarcane is propagated vegetatively for commercial purposes, but for genetic improvement, crosses carried out to produce seeds with the new genetic combinations. This study aims to determine the viability and vigor of seeds from intrageneric and intergeneric crosses at various storage periods. This study used seed samples from 19 intrageneric and intergeneric crosses conducted by ISRI from 2006 to 2016. The seeds were kept in aluminum foil bags in the freezer at -20oC. Viability and vigor of seeds were determined by evaluating germination, growth speed, growth synchronously, vigor index, and maximum growth potential. The results showed that the type of crosses and the storage time of seeds had a very significant effect on germination, growth speed, growth synchronously, vigor index and maximum growth potential. However, the longer storage of sugarcane seeds was not always accompanied by a decrease in seed viability and vigor, both seeds resulting from intergeneric and intrageneric crosses. In addition, the viability and vigor of seeds from intergeneric crosses was lower than the viability and vigor of seeds from intrageneric crosses.