Mechanical damage assessment in rejected durum wheat seed lots in Morocco
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Date
1999-01-01
Date Issued
1999-01-01
ISI Journal
Impact factor: 0.905 (Year: 1999)
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Citation
L. Grass, M. Tourkmani. (1/1/1999). Mechanical damage assessment in rejected durum wheat seed lots in Morocco. Seed Science and Technology, 27, pp. 991-997.
Abstract
In Morocco, significant quantities of cereal seeds are rejected each year by the certification authority because of low germination levels. Factors that may contribute to this are not yet identified. The present investigation was carried out on durum wheat only. The aim of the study was to assess the importance and degree of mechanical damage in the rejected seed lots and to investigate the effects of these injuries on seed germination and seedling vigour. Samples were collected from rejected and certified seed lots. Seed moisture content was very low for all the samples, with an average of 9.4%. Examination of these seeds under a magnifying glass showed a large proportion of mechanically damaged seeds ranging up to 75% in some samples. The types of damage comprised damaged embryos (9%) and damaged scutellum and integuments covering the embryos (39%). Seed injury was high in rejected seed lots (64%) and much lower in certified seed (7%). Seedlings from mechanically damaged seeds showed a high proportion of abnormalities; however, this was related to the type of seed damage, with embryo damage resulting in the highest proportion of abnormalities. This study shows that mechanical damage is partially responsible for low germination and rejection of durum wheat seed lots by the certification laboratory.
