GERMINATION AND VIGOR LOSS OF NON-SPROUTED AND SPROUTED WHEAT SEEDS DURING STORAGE - TESTING THE VIABILITY CONSTANTS

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.