Effect of Seed Source on Seed Vigour and Field Performance of the Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor. (L.) Moench] Cultivar Taba

Abstract

A set of laboratory tests and field experiments were conducted
for two consecutive seasons (2009/10 and 2010/11) to investigate the
effect of seed source on seed quality attributes of the sorghum cultivar
Tabat. Simple correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the
degree of association between the different vigour tests and seedling
emergence under field conditions. Seeds were obtained from four
locations: two rainfed (Damazin and Habeela) and two irrigated (Khashm
El Girba and El Gezira). Data were collected on initial seed moisture
content, 1000-seed weight, germination percentage, rate of germination,
seedling shoot length, seedling root length, seedling shoot to root length
ratio, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, plant height, number of
leaves per plant, leaf area per plant and plant fresh and dry weight. The
results indicated that, under laboratory conditions, seed source had
significant effect on seedling root length and fresh weight in the first
season, on germination percentage and rate of germination in the second
season and on seed moisture content and 1000 seed weight in both
seasons. Significant differences were found in seedling shoot length and
plant height under field conditions. Seeds from Habeela and Damazin
performed well with regard to germination percentage, rate of
germination and field seedling emergence. Also, seeds from the rainfed
areas produced taller plants than those from irrigated areas (Khashm El
Girba and El Gezira). The results also showed that field seedling
emergence was positively correlated with the estimate, under laboratory