The influence of low temperatures on seed germination

--Bonea, D, Urechean, V, Paraschivu, M

The study of the local germplasm is imposed by the necessity of creating productive maize hybrids with resistance to low temperatures, with a view to selecting tolerant parental forms.

The tolerance of some local populations from the Research Station in the Simnic-Craiova region to low temperatures was characterized for effect of cold on seed germination.

For those ten local populations tested for their reaction at low temperatures, the rate of seed germination in three conditions has been established: (1) the control variant — temperatures of 23±1 °C, in laboratory conditions; (2) low constant temperatures for seven days, in a refrigerator, at 4±1 °C; (3) alternating temperatures of 12 hours at temperatures of 23±1 and 12 hours at temperatures of 4±1 °C.

Seeds were germinated on paper filter in Petri plates under the treatments (Table 1).

Table 1. The influence of temperature on the rate of germination in local populations.
Treatment Population Germination s
% ± d
a0 (control) b1 58.3 -26.7 000
b2 90 +5  
b3 96.6 +11.6 *
b4 86.6 +1.6  
b5 98.3 +13.3 *
b6 81.6 -3.4  
b7 75 -10  
b8-contr. 85    
b9 88.3 +3.3  
b10 93.3 +8.3  
a1 (low constant temperature) b1 45 -30 000
b2 70 -5  
b3 91.6 +16.6 **
b4 80 +5  
b5 96.6 +21.6 ***
b6 63.3 -11.7 0
b7 63.3 -11.7 0
b8-contr. 75    
b9 56.6 -18.4 000
b10 91.6 +16.6 **
a2 (alternating temperatures) b1 60 -26.6 000
b2 88.3 +1.7  
b3 95 +8.4  
b4 86.6 0  
b5 76.6 +10  
b6 85 -1.6  
b7 78.3 -8.3  
b8-contr. 86.6    
b9 75 -11.6 0
b10 90 +3.4  

LD5%=10.36; LD1%=13.82; LD0.1%=18