GERMINATION AND VIGOUR IN STORED SEED OF
STYLOSANTHES HAMATA AND STYLOSANTHES SCABRA

V. Ramamurthy^1,2, D.S. Loch³, K. Sridhar¹, N. Biradar¹ and C.R. Ramesh^1
1Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Dharwad - 580 005, INDIA;
²National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur 440 010, INDIA;
³Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 327, Cleveland Q 4163, AUSTRALIA

Levels of germinable, hard and dead seeds in locally harvested samples of Stylosanthes hamata and Stylosanthes scabra were determined in laboratory experiments at Dharwad, India, and a Seed Vigour Index (based on seedling measurements and germination) was calculated. Freshly harvested seed was compared with seed lots stored for one, two or three years under ambient conditions. Prior to testing, samples from each seed lot were depodded by rubbing with a rubber pad or with sandpaper and compared to an untreated control sample.

The loss of viable seed (i.e. germinable + dead seeds) in storage was slower in S. scabra than in S. hamata. For optimum field establishment, seed of S. hamata should be sown soon after harvest, in contrast to S. scabra which germinated better after one year in storage. In both species, the seed should be de-podded to ensure optimum establishment and field performance.

Keywords: Stylosanthes, hardseededness, seed viability.