Seed vigor in reserve mobilization and wheat seedling formation

Abstract

The interactions between the mobilization of seed reserves and vigor are fundamental to research the mechanisms that contribute to the formation and growth of vigorous seedlings and their establishment in the field. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of reserves during the process of seedling formation in wheat seeds with different vigor levels. Eleven wheat cultivars were used and germination, seedling emergence in the field, speed index and average time of emergence, shoot and root length, seedling and endosperm dry mass, reduction of seed reserves, reserve reduction rate, reserve mobilization rate and reserve use efficiency were evaluated. Wheat seed lots with greater vigor demonstrate higher seed reserve reduction rate, higher rate of mobilization of reserves and greater efficiency of use of seed reserves, producing seedlings with greater length and greater dry mass. It was possible to conclude that the seed lots with greater vigor have greater capacity of reserve depletion and mobilization, and the parameter determined as reserve mobilization rate can be used to evaluate the physiological quality of seed lots.