Synopsis Greenhouse tests indicated no reduction in the survival of Rhizobium meliloti on alfalfa seeds and in soil fertilized with ammonium sulfate treated with 2‐chloro‐6‐(trichloromethyl) pyridine. Reduction in seedling growth of alfalfa plants was severe at 20 ppm of 2‐chloro‐6‐(trichlorornethyl) pyridine and slight at 1 ppm. Other deleterious effects on alfalfa seedlings were changes in nodule morphology and deformation of root tips.

Phalaris tuberosa var. stenoptera, P. tuberosa var. hirtiglumis, and P. coerulescens are reported to differ significantly in their degree of seedling vigor during plant establishment. To determine the relationship of carbohydrate metabolism to seedling growth and development, seeds of each species and variety were analyzed for starch, total sugars, reducing sugars, and nonreducing sugars during the first 15 days after initiation of germination in the dark. Seedling growth during the same period was also observed. Seedling growth in P. coerulescens was greater and more rapid than in the other two species. Radicle emergence in all species was closely associated with a rapid rise in sugar content. Seedling growth in the dark continued after starch exhaustion, but declined as the sugar levels in the seedlings decreased. Seedling growth rate is an important part of seedling vigor. Evidence is presented which suggests that the growth rate of hardinggrass seedlings is limited by the ability of the seedlings to use the sugars supplied by the endosperm. With perlagrass and Phalaris coerulescens, the limit appears to be in the ability of the endosperm to supply sugars.

Application of nitrogen and phosphorus to parent plants of O. miliacea increased the number of seeds produced per plant and the mean seed weight. Both the seedling growth rates and the ultimate seedling lengths in the dark independent of seed weight were increased by the fertilizer application to the parent plants. However, these increases were relatively small compared with the increases associated with seed weight. Water stress applied to the parent plants in pots, decreased the seed yield per plant and increased the mean seed weight. Seedling growth or ultimate seedling length, independent of seed weight, was not affected.

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