Study of Variation and Seed Deterioration of Secale Montanum Germplasm, in Iran Natural Resources Gene Bank

Authors

Forestry and Rangeland Research Institute

Abstract

In order to examine and evaluate the variation and process of deterioration of seeds of Secale montanum accessions, which have been collected in natural resources genebank, this research was carried out. Eleven accessions were examined in a completely randomized design with three replications under two different conditions, germinator and glasshouse.
The recorded traits of the germinator test included, germination percentage (G.P.), speed of germination and vigor. The recorded traits of the test in glasshous, included G.P., speed of germination, plant height, number of tillers and root length in 40 days after planting. Significant difference was found between accessions for many of the studied traits. Variation between accessions was significant in one or both of the environments.
The results of Correlation coefficient analysis showed negative correlation between reduction of G.P., speed of germination and seed vigor in germinator condition and G.P., speed of germination and plant height in glasshouse condition. Therefore, seed deterioration not only reduces G.P, but also decreases the speed of germination and seed vigor.
In all of the Secale montanum accessions, because stored samples of each year were different from other years, therefore reduction of G.P., was highly affected by origin of accessions. It was not possible to differentiate between the effect of maintaining condition and origin of seed. It was suggested that, for better genebank management, accessions, have to be considered as regeneration unites of collected seeds.

Keywords