M. Stahl et Am. Steiner, GERMINATION AND VIGOR LOSS OF NON-SPROUTED AND SPROUTED WHEAT SEEDS DURING STORAGE - TESTING THE VIABILITY CONSTANTS, Seed science research, 8(2), 1998, pp. 123-128
The loss of percentage germination and vigour of non-sprouted and spro
uted seeds of winter wheat was determined during storage for 80 days a
t 11 different combinations of moisture content and temperature. Befor
e storage the initial percentage germination and vigour were reduced a
ccording to the level of sprouting. During storage the percentage germ
ination and vigour decreased. The rate of germination loss increased w
ith increasing seed moisture content and/or increasing temperature. Th
e species-specific constants K-E, C-W, C-H and C-Q of the viability eq
uation were not different for non-sprouted and sprouted seeds. Likewis
e, the relation between the percentage of normal and abnormal seedling
s was independent of sprouting. The rate of vigour loss was also indep
endent of the storage conditions and of sprouting.