Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

First year seed softening in three Hedysarum spp. in southern Queensland

L. W. Bell, D. L. Lloyd, K. L. Bell, B. Johnson and K. C. Teasdale

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43(11) 1303 - 1310
Published: 09 December 2003

Abstract

Seed softening was investigated in 41 lines of Hedysarum coronarium, 5 lines of H. carnosum and 8 lines of H. flexuosum grown at Oakey, Queensland in 2000. After testing for initial hard seed content in each line, the remaining hard seeds were placed on the soil surface at Kingsthorpe on 15 January 2001. Changes in hard seed levels over the ensuing summer-autumn seed softening period were measured. The initial hard seed content in each species ranged from 20 to 79% in H. coronarium; 31 to 79% in H. carnosum; and 54 to 83% in H. flexuosum. No significant difference in the time of seed softening between accessions or species was identified. Despite the similar timing, the extent of softening varied greatly between accessions and species. The proportion of initially hard seed that softened ranged from 54 to 95% in H. coronarium; 27 to 45% in H. carnosum; and 50 to 74% in H. flexuosum. Accessions of H. coronarium and H. flexuosum softened the greatest proportion of seed between 15 January and 22 February with reducing amounts thereafter. Accessions of H. carnosum softened less seed over this period, appearing to display a slower, more constant rate of softening. Although total hard seed levels were relatively low, there was sufficient variability in hard seed levels to provide some scope for selection of desired hard seed characteristics.

Keywords: hard seed, Sulla, forage legume, genotypic variation.

https://doi.org/10.1071/EA02195

© CSIRO 2003

Committee on Publication Ethics


Export Citation Get Permission

View Dimensions

View Altmetrics