ASSESSMENT OF DIFFERENT SEED LOTS OF DURUM WHEAT VARIETIES (TRITICUM DURUM DESF.) ON GROWTH, YIELD COMPONENTS AND SEED QUALITY

Abstract

Seeds are stored from harvest to the next growing season or more due to many reasons. Since quality seed with high germination and high vigor is a pre-requisite for high productivity and profitability, the storage time and storability of seeds are crucial to maintain seeds to a level that makes them commercially acceptable. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objectives of evaluating the effects of varieties and seed lots s of different seed lots on the growth, yield and yield components quality and health of seeds. The field experiment was conducted on Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE) Gonde Basic Seed Farm during July to November, 2011 main cropping season. Data on phenological, agronomical traits and seed quality parameters were collected and subjected to statistical analyses. The results revealed seedling emergence per m2 and days to heading were significantly varied due to interaction effects but no significant variations observed on days to physiological maturity and plant height. Significant differences were obtained on biomass, straw and seed yield weights due to main effects of Variety maximum yields were obtained from Yerer Variety. Interaction effects showed very highly significant differences in all physiological quality and vigour determination tests of stored seed lots. Considering post harvest quality test result the main effects of variety showed significant differences on standard germination and both main effects of variety and seed lots showed significant differences on speed of germination. Therefore the Ude variety can be stored for two years while Yerer can be stored for three years but storing these varieties beyond 3years cannot be viable for seed purposes beyond.