Predicting potential field seedling vigour of Canadian six-row barley cultivars

Abstract

. 1999. Predicting potential field seedling vigour of Canadian six-row barley cultivars. Can. J. Plant Sci. 79: 329-334. Rapid techniques for predicting the field vigour potential of barley seed samples would be very useful for seed-testing laboratories and barley breeders. The objective of this study was to compare two faster laboratory seed-testing methods, tetrazolium chloride reduction (TZ) and carbon dioxide evolution rate (CDE), with the standard, but slow and costly germination resistance (GR) test, for ability to identify cultivar differences in vigour and their relationship to vigour potential in the field. Fifteen six-row barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars were used in the study, from two seed sources grown in different years, and four replicate assays of all three tests were conducted in controlled conditions at 5, 10, 15 and 20°C. Field emergence rate (FDE = days to 75% seedling emergence) was also assessed in replicated plot trials grown at Edmonton and Ellerslie, Alberta in 1997, using the same seed sources. Three seeding dates were used at each site to obtain a range of soil temperatures at planting depth from 4 to 18°C. Significant differences between cultivars were found for TZ, CDE and GR, but not between seed sources, and little or no interaction of cultivar with assay temperature was found. Cultivar performance was relatively similar when assessed by TZ or CDE, at all temperatures. CDE, TZ and GR results from all temperatures and both seed sources were compared by correlation to FDE results for all six planting events (two field sites × three planting dates). High and significant correlations (r > 0.51; sig., P < 0.05) were found for nearly all comparisons of each of CDE, TZ and GR with FDE. For all comparisons with FDE the average correlation for TZ was 0.68, 0.66 for CDE, and 0.69 for GR, with 10% of all possible correlations exceeding 0.80 (all sig., P < 0.05). These results indicate that all three laboratory tests at any temperature were generally effective predictors of the potential field seedling vigour of different barley cultivars. TZ and CDE appear to be useful alternatives to GR for assessing potential field seedling vigour of barley cultivars, and lend themselves to development of automated laboratory assay procedures, not possible for GR. Nous avons comparé deux méthodes rapides d'essai en laboratoire, la méthode de réduction du chlorure de tétrazolium (TZ) et la mesure du taux de dégagement du dioxyde de carbone (DBC) à la méthode standard, mais lente et onéreuse, de la résis-tance à la germination (RG) quant à leur capacité d'identifier les différences intervariétales de vigueur ainsi que leur vigueur potentielle au champ. Les 15 cultivars d'orge à six rangs (Hordeum vulgare L.) utilisés venaient de deux provenances de semence récoltées dans des années différentes. Des tests biologiques en 4 répétitions des trois méthodes étaient réalisés en conditions contrôlées à 5, 10, 15 et 20°C. En outre, à Edmonton et à Ellerslie (Alberta), le taux de levée au champ (TLC), soit le nomb...

Variation amongst Canadian six-row spring barley cultivars for germination and emergence characteristics in controlled environments and in the field

“…The study consisted of two types of experiments, those conducted in growth cabinets over a range of temperatures from 2.5 to 20°C, and those conducted in the field over three planting dates in each of 2 yr, to achieve a range of soil temperatures at planting depth in the field (Briggs and Dunn 1999). Vigour was assessed in the growth cabinet by Gordon's test by time to 75% germination in the field, as well as by measures of dry weight accumulation of the seedlings in the cabinet, and at 3 and 5 wk after emergence in the field.…”

“…Fourteen registered Canadian cultivars and one advanced line of six-row barley [selected to represent a wide range of genetic background of Western Canadian feed and malt breeding programs of the mid 1980s (Kong et al 1994;Briggs and Dunn 1999)] were included in the study. They included Argyll, Bonanza, BT522, Conquest, Diamond, Empress, Galt, Heartland, Jackson, Johnston, Klondike, Leduc, Noble, Otal, and Samson.…”

“…Seeding rate was adjusted for each cultivar to provide a targeted plant density of 250 plants m -2 . Seeding dates were chosen to provide as wide a range of soil temperature at seeding depth (3 cm) as possible among the three dates [details presented in Briggs and Dunn (1999)]. …”

“…The second step is then to identify the test or tests that best identify genetic differences for these traits. Addressing the second step, Briggs and Dunn (1999) described a number of controlled-environment tests for assaying vigour in six-row barley, all of which correlated well with vigour in the field. This study reports on the genetic differences found amongst six-row barley cultivars for germination resistance and seedling dry matter accumulation.…”

Early detection of non-visible sprouting in barley seed using rapid viscosity analysis

“…Seed viability is frequently tested by a standard germination test (American Society of Brewing Chemists 1992), or with fluoroscein and tetrazolium stains (American Society of Brewing Chemists 2004; Marks et al 1985;Briggs and Dunn 1999). The malting industry commonly uses three tests to assess sprouting: a pearling test with visual observation (Heisel et al 2004), the Falling Number method or evaluation by RVA (American Society of Brewing Chemists 2004; Schwarz et al 2004).…”