MICROPHENOLOGICAL PHASES OF BARLEY SEED GERMINATION: DESCRIPTION, TIME OF START AND DURATION

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of present study was to propose improved full scale of morphologically distinct phases of germinating barley seeds and on the bases of that scale to determine each phase time of start and its duration.Methods. Seeds of five spring and five winter varieties have been germinated under optimal condition от paper in plastic bags. Morphology of each seed was registered during seven 24-hour-periods (until seed full germination) with 2 hours interval. On the bases of obtained data we made the description of each phase and calculated the time of its commencement and duration.Results. New improved scale of germinating barley seeds phases, which we named “microphenological phases of seed germination” (MPPSG), is created and each phase is described. The scale consists of eight phases, both well-known (dry seed, start of seed imbibition, radicle emergence, coleoptile emergence and seedling coming-to-be) and three new phases of roots growth (Roots1 of “fork”, Roots2 of “short roots” and Roots3 or “long roots”). The time of each phase commencement and its duration were calculated. It was shown that full time of germinating seed roots growth (R1 + R2 + R3) occupies about 50 % of germination time.Practical implications. Improved scale of MPPSG of barley may be used to study processes of physiology, biochemistry, genetics and others in germinating seeds phase by phase, and then to discuss obtained data as it was process in individual barley seed. Also this MPPSG scale may be used in practical seed farming to evaluate seed lots and in plant breeding to compere barley varieties.

Keywords

• barley
• seed
• germination
• microphenological phase