The effect of suboptimal temperature on vigor of primed bitter gourd seeds

• Main Authors: Lin, Jiun Ming, 林俊明
• Other Authors: Jin-Min Sung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1998
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/82202888541913666128

碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 農藝學系 === 86 === Bitter gourd seeds are generally lower in emergence percentage and longer in emergence time. In this study, seeds of two bitter gourd varieties （Special Six and Moon Shine）were subjected to different priming treatments（solid priming (SP), liquid thermo-priming (LP) and a combination of solid and liquid-thermo priming (LP＋SP)）.Both primed and non-primed seeds were emerged under norm temperatures（25℃） sub-optimal temperatures（ 20℃）and low temperatures（15℃）. The results indicated that sub-optimal temperatures lowered the emergence percentage and increased emergence time of bitter gourd seeds. However, priming alleviated this problem to some extend. Electrolyte leakage test confirmed the benefit of priming on seed vigor. Scanning electron microscope examination revealed a loose structure of seed coat in comparison with non-primed controls. X-ray examination also revealed that primed seeds tended to have a smaller unfilled free space compared to that of controls. In addition, priming also increased the activities of isocitrate lyase, malate synthase and malate dehydrogenase during seedling emergence under sub-optimal temperature. Among the three priming treatments, liquid thermo-priming plus solid priming was the best method to overcome the poor sub-optimal emergence of bitter gourd seeds.