VIGOR TESTING IN PERENNIAL RYEGRASS (LOLIUM-PERENNE L) SEEDS

Seed vigour testing is an important component of crop seed analysis. C ommonly used vigour tests were evaluated to determine their ability to assess seed quality in three perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) s eed lots. Standard germination results showed no significant differenc e in germinability among the three seed lots. Germination percentages from the cold test were lower than those from standard germination, bu t no significant (p less-than-or-equal-to 0.05) differences were obser ved. However, significant differences in shoot height of seedlings fol lowing both the germination and cold tests were found. Single seed and bulk conductivity tests showed significant differences among the seed lots with the single seed conductivity test producing greater differe nces than germination percentage and shoot height among the seed lots. These findings indicate that commonly used vigour tests can different iate seed quality among commercially acceptable perennial ryegrass see d lots. Seedling growth, conductivity, and accelerated ageing tests we re the most sensitive tests for seed vigour. Although the standard ger mination test is the most widely accepted measure of seed quality, the se data suggest that vigour testing may be an important method for fur ther evaluating turfgrass seed quality.