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GERMINATION BEHAVIOR OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM) VARIETIES TO ARTIFICIAL AGEING UNDER VARYING TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

SADAR UDDIN SIDDIQUI¹*, ASJAD ALI² AND M. FAYYAZ CHAUDHARY²

Abstract: Seed viability of the conserved plant genetic resources is decreased even under the optimal storage conditions. Seeds of some plant species loose viability faster than others. Artificial seed ageing was used with the objective to determine its effect on seed viability, while outlining the contribution of different factors like temperature and moisture towards seed deterioration in two wheat varieties viz., Wheat Var. Margala-99 and Wafaq-2001; seeds having two types of initial moisture contents (low and high), were experimental materials. Three temperature regimes (40, 50 and 60oC); four incubation durations (24, 48, 72 and 96 h), under two types of relative humidity (low or high) were the treatments compared with control at 25oC. Seed viability after artificial ageing was determined by germination at 25oC (±2) under light conditions. Germination behavior of artificially aged seeds of both wheat varieties indicated that, the viability decreases with the increase in ageing incubation temperature. Incubation of seeds under high relative humidity has more pronounced effect in decreasing the seed viability than low relative humidity. Seeds incubated under high relative humidity, the viability decreases with increase in incubation period. Variation in germination behavior among varieties warrants study on a larger varietal group.

¹National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad-45500, Pakistan

²Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author: ssadar2@yahoo.com