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Predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops

Dissertation (MSc (Agric) Horticulture)--University of Pretoria, 2007.

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Other Authors: Robbertse, Hannes
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Robbertse, Hannes
author_browse Robbertse, Hannes
author_facet Robbertse, Hannes
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2005, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Agric) Horticulture)--University of Pretoria, 2007.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:46.059Z
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provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
publishDateSort 2013
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/27620 Predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops Robbertse, Hannes Marais, D. (Diana) melake@tuks.co.za Fessehazion, M.K. (Melake Kessete) Seed Saturated accelerated ageing test Accelerated ageing test Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Onion Cabbage UCTD Dissertation (MSc (Agric) Horticulture)--University of Pretoria, 2007. The predictive values of standard and non-standard germination temperatures, standard accelerated ageing (AA) and saturated salt accelerated ageing (SSAA) tests were investigated. Germination tests were performed at standard and non-standard temperatures of 10°, 20°, 20°/30° and 30°C for cabbage and tomato, and 10°, 15°, 20° and 30°C for onion. The AA and SSAA tests were conducted using four relative humidities: standard AA (RH100), NaCl (RH75), Ca(NO3)2 (RH43) and MgCl2 (RH32). Emergence trials were also conducted at a range of temperatures (winter, 15°/25° and 30°C) and media (Hygromix and soil) using seedling trays. Correlations were calculated to evaluate the relationship between laboratory and emergence test results. Three onion seed lots that have different vigour levels were primed with PEG or NaCl and were germinated and planted under varying temperatures and levels of salinity. There were vigour differences among different seed lots of cabbage, onion and tomato seeds used in this study. Using the different laboratory tests, seed lots were distinguished as high, medium and low vigour seed lots. The low temperature germination test (10°C) for cabbage and onion; and 20°C for tomato were found to be effective for separation of seed lots according to their vigour levels. All SSAA vigour tests were also useful in differentiating seed lots based on their physiological stage of deterioration. Using the standard AA (RH100) the seed moisture content was high (29 to 45%), resulting in fungal growth. However, in the SSAA test the moisture content was below 14% and no fungal growth was observed. Ageing of seed lots using NaCl and MgCl2 resulted in a low narrow range of moisture contents, but using Ca (NO3)2 the range of the moisture content between seed lots was higher. For all crop seeds, there was no significant difference in the percentage emergence between the two growth media but larger seedlings were observed from the commercial growth medium (Hygromix). For cabbage, highly significant correlations were obtained between germination percentage at 10°C and RH32 and all emergence trials. In onion, the correlations were not consistent; highly significant correlations were observed from germination capacity (GC), 15°C, 20°C, 30°C, RH75 and RH32; and emergence parameters at specific conditions. However, the germination percentage from 30°C correlated significantly with the final emergence percentage and seedling vigour index. Germination of tomato seeds at 20°C and all SSAA had highly significant correlation with all emergence parameters. The germination rate parameters: MGT (mean germination time) and GI (germination index) were valuable in categorising seed lots with moderate vigour levels, however, except GE in cabbage and onion, all other germination rate characters failed to correlate with any emergence parameters. The radicle percentage germination (viability or GC) and final emergence percentage (FEP) were not enhanced by priming in all seed lots in the germination and emergence trials at all temperatures. The percentage of normal seedling was increased due to priming when seeds were subjected to low temperature and higher salinity levels. Priming was effective in improving the rate, uniformity of germination/emergence; and increased the seedling dry mass of onion seeds when grown under relatively cold environmental conditions. Priming was more beneficial for low vigour seed lots (seed lot A) than for high vigour seed lots (B, C). Priming also improved germination rate and uniformity at all salinity levels, but faster rate of emergence, more uniform and higher seedling dry mass were only observed when seeds were watered with low salinity levels (25 mM of NaCl). No significant difference was observed using NaCl or PEG as priming agent. Onion seeds are tolerant to salinity during germination and the effect of priming was more beneficial at emergence. Plant Production and Soil Science unrestricted 2013-09-07T11:51:59Z 2006-02-09 2013-09-07T11:51:59Z 2005-05-08 2007-02-09 2006-02-09 Dissertation Fessehazion, M 2005, Predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27620 > http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27620 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02092006-130454/ © 2005, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Seed
Saturated accelerated ageing test
Accelerated ageing test
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Onion
Cabbage
UCTD
Predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops
title Predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops
title_full Predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops
title_fullStr Predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops
title_full_unstemmed Predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops
title_short Predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops
title_sort predicting and improving seedling emergence of three vegetable crops
topic Seed
Saturated accelerated ageing test
Accelerated ageing test
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Onion
Cabbage
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27620
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02092006-130454/