WHEAT SEED GERMINATION UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE REGIMES

Temperature greatly influences germination of the seeds. Most of the varieties lack the ability to sustain temperature stress with significant differences for germination and related traits. Laboratory investigations were conducted to determine the effect of different temperature regimes on germination traits of various wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties at Department of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan during 2008. Seeds of five wheat varieties (Moomal 2000, T J-83, Imdad-2005, Abadgar-93 and Mehran-89) were tested for germination and related traits under three temperature regimes (10, 20 and 30°C) in germinator. The increase in temperature significantly enhanced germination and related traits. All the wheat varieties germinated well (80-97%) sown at 10-30°C, whereas, shoot length was maximum in Moomal-2000 and Mehran-89 sown at 20 and 30°C, respectively. Root length, fresh shoot and root weight, root dry weight including seed vigor index were maximum with increasing temperature particularly in case of variety Mehran-89. The maximum seed germination, vigor index occurred at 20-30oC and these temperature regimes were identified as optimum for wheat seed germination.