The radicle emergence test and storage longevity of cucurbit rootstock seed lots

A study was carried out to test whether a single count of radicle emergence (RE test) would correlate with the storage potential of seed lots of cucurbit (C. maxima x C. moschata) rootstock cultivars. The RE test was performed by counting radicle emergence percentage between 26 and 100 hours of germination. Seed longevity was determined by storage at 75% relative humidity at 35 degrees C over 100 days, with seed survival curves constructed based on normal germination percentages. K-i (estimated initial viability in probits), sigma (standard deviation of the normal distribution of seed death in time) and p(50) (time for viability to fall to 50%) were determined through probit analysis. Correlation analysis showed that RE counts particularly between 30 and 34 hours were highly (P < 0.01) correlated with normal germination percentage, K-i and p(50). It can be concluded that RE tests can be used as an indicator of subsequent seed lot longevity in cucurbit rootstock seed cultivars.

Automated summary

This study investigated the correlation between radicle emergence (RE) counts and the storage potential of cucurbit rootstock seed lots. The results showed that RE counts were highly correlated with normal germination percentage, estimated initial viability, and the time for viability to fall to 50%. Therefore, RE tests can be used as an indicator of seed lot longevity in cucurbit rootstock cultivars.