Sunflower seed germination and storability response to chemical desiccation

Abstract

The objective was to assess the effect of chemical desiccation on seed germination and storability in three sunflower female inbred lines and to point at possible indicators for optimal performance time. Desiccation was performed with Diquat (2 l ha-1) applied at 7-day intervals from the end of flowering to harvest maturity. There were 6 treatments and control (untreated). Germination was tested 2 and 21 months after harvest. The highest germination was recorded when the desiccation was performed 35 days after flowering. Results showed that optimal moment for applying chemical desiccation when there is no negative effect on the seed germination is specific for each sunflower genotype. Seeds with a high level of germination (>90%) can be stored for 19 months without significant loss in germination, namely, it was not negatively affected by chemical desiccation. Seed moisture and growing degree-days can be used as reliable indicators for optimal desiccation time.

Cilj rada bio je da se ispita uticaj hemijske desikacije na klijavost i čuvanje kvaliteta semena tri inbred linije suncokreta, kao i da se ispitaju mogući indikatori za optimalno vreme izvođenja desikacije. Za desikaciju je korišćen Dikvat (2 l/ha) u intervalima od 7 dana od završetka cvetanja do žetvene zrelosti. Obavljeno je 6 tretmana i kontrola. Klijavost je ispitivana 2 i 21 mesec nakon žetve. Najveća klijavost je zabeležena pri desikaciji 35 dana posle cvetanja. Rezultati pokazuju da je optimalni momenat za izvođenje hemijske desikacije, u kom nema negativnog uticaja na klijavost, specifičan za svaki genotip suncokreta. Seme visokog kvaliteta (>90%) moguće je čuvati 19 meseci bez značajnog smanjenja klijavosti, takođe, kod takvog semena nije bilo ni negativnog uticaja hemijske desikacije. Vlaga semena i sume aktivnih temperatura se mogu koristiti kao pouzdani indikatori optimalnog vremena za izvođenje hemijske desikacije.