The interrelation of dormancy, size, and hardness in seed of Trifolium subterraneum L.

Abstract

Seeds of single samples of each of three cultivars of Trifolium subterraneum L. were separated into size classes. The large- and small-seed classes were further divided into hard and soft seed. The dormancy status of each of these four arbitrary classes was determined. In all samples, lower dormancy was associated with large seed and with soft seed. Possible origins of these associations are discussed in terms of the environments in which the seeds matured.