SEED GERMINATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1939, Page 9

SEED GERMINATION

FUNGUS ATTACKS RYEGRASS. NEED FOR TESTS BEING MADE. “Earlier this season a short article appeared in these columns warning growers and merchants that ryegrass seed germination was likely to be poor this year, owing to the attack of the fungus known as Pullularia,” states Mr N. Lamont, of the Department of Agriculture, Masterton. “Unfortunately, this warning has been proved to be only too well founded, and germination figures of less than 10 per cent have been recorded for both local and outside lines. The infection has taken place at both early and late stages in the development of the seed and while early infected seeds are usually small and light, and therefore removed by machine dressing, those which have been infected when relatively mature are quite indistinguishable from healthy seeds, except by laboratory test. Appearance is absolutely no guide to germination nor can bushel weight be accepted as iji any way indicating the probably viability of the line. “Growers and dealers are, therefore, advised to submit samples for germination test from all lines they may be handling and growers who have not yet threshed or who have not yet had their seed machine dressed, would be well advised to have a test made before going to the expense of these operations. “It should be understood, also, that the low germination figures are almost entirely the result of an actual diseased condition of the seed kernals so that no significant improvement after storage or other treatment can be expected. On the other hand, those seeds in a poor line which do germinate are quite disease free, and are, in all respects, quite as vigorous as the germinating seeds in a line with general high germination. That is to say, a line germinating 45 per cent is no less than half as £ood as a line germinating 90 per cent except, of course, for the extra trouble in sowing twice the quantity. “Furthermore, the fungus appears to be present everywhere and no fear need be entertained of introducing it into clean areas by sowing a low germinating line. At present, there is no known method of control of this trouble and it’s importance in a particular season depends entirely on the weather conditions experienced around about the flowering time of ryegrass.