Impact of Ultrasounds on the Share of Hard Seeds in Lotus corniculatus L.
Keywords:
hard seeds, Lotus corniculatus L., seed size, ultrasoundsAbstract
Research has focused on 4 size groups of bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) (Ø 1.0-1.6 mm) and 10 variants of ultrasound treatments with different intensities and exposure times (0.11-2.72 W/cm2 and 10-160 seconds). After treating the bird’s-foot trefoil seed groups with ultrasounds, the bird’s-foot trefoil seeds were put into Petri vases for germination and the following parameters were measured: germinating energy (after 10 days), germinating faculty (after 21 days) and share of hard bird’s-foot trefoil seeds (after 31 days). Research results show a very significant decrease of the share of hard bird’s-foot trefoil seeds in the groups of medium- and large-size bird’s-foot trefoil seeds treated with ultrasounds, compared to the control variant (no group seeds) or to the small-size bird’s-foot trefoil seed group treated with ultrasounds. Intensity and exposure time do not correlate with the share of hard bird’s-foot trefoil seeds.
References
Bass, L. N., Gunn, C. R., Hesterman O. B. and Roos E. E., Seed physiology, seedling performance and seed sprouting, Agronomy Monograph, 1988, 29, 961 – 983
Hall, J. W., Stout, D. G. and Brooke, B. M., Alfalfa seed germination tests and stand establishment: The role of hard (water impermeable) seed, Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 1988, 78, 295 – 300
Rincker, C. M., Germination of forage crop seeds after 20 years of subfreezing storage, Crop Science, 1982, 23, 2, 229 – 231
Rutar, R. et al., Effect of temperature on germination and hard alfalfa seed, CIHEAM, 2001, 2, 137 – 139
Taylor, T. H., Templeton, W. C. and Wyles, J. W., Management effects on persistence and productivity of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), Soil Science, 1972, 65, 4, 646 – 648.
