RESPIRATION RATE AND SEED VIGOR IN SUNFLOWER

Abstract

In this study the respiration rate of germinating seeds of 20 sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) families was related to their seed vigor and oil content. With respect to seed vigor as measured by the tetrazolium test, the differences among the families with high and low oil content were small but consistent, establishing that family F-394 was more vigorous than family F-13. It was found that the two genotypes produced both vigorous and non vigorous seedlings. The non vigorous seedlings showed a lower respiration rate than the vigorous seedlings, particulary after 96 hours of imbibition. Thus, the respiration rate at this stage of germination could be
used as selection index for seed and seedling vigor in sunflower.