MULTIPLE SEED VIGOR INDEXES TO PREDICT FIELD EMERGENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF BARLEY

Samples of Korean and Michigan barley varieties artificially aged to p rovide varying levels of seed quality were evaluated by the standard g ermination test (SGT), cold germination test, electroconductivity test and tetrazolium vigour test. In a multiple correlation analysis, plum ule length in the SGT accounted for 71% of the variation in seedling e mergence in malting barley. Percent germination, vigour index and elec troconductivity also contributed significantly to the regression equat ion. However, field emergence of food varieties was not easily predict ed by the regression equation, compared with malting and feed varietie s, Grain yield was predicted by the percent cold germination, standard germination and electroconductivity. Percent field emergence was sign ificantly correlated with grain yield of malting barley and electrocon ductivity. Percent TZ viability, plumule length and percent germinatio n were useful for predicting grain yield of feed barley.