Effect of different methods of storage upon the vitality of scarified and nonscarified seed of alfalfa,
sweet clover, and red clover
by William Daniel Hay
A THESIS submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF
SCIENCE
Montana State University
© Copyright by William Daniel Hay (1932)
Abstract:
It is believed the experiments and observations reported in this paper justify the following conclusions:
The total vitality of non-scarified seed of sweet clover and red clover will decrease slowly during the
first seven years of storage. Ton-scarified alfalfa seed of good maturity and high hard seed content will
lose vitality gradually. Alfalfa seed less mature or of low hard seed content may show a rapid decline in
vitality during the first two years of storage, but will fall off gradually thereafter.
Scarified seed of alfalfa will lose total vitality rapidly during the first two or three years of storage, but
scarified seed of sweet clover and red clover lose vitality gradually when in storage. Scarified seed of
these three crops will not retain its vitality as well as non-scarified seed.
The hard seed content of alfalfa decreases rapidly during the first year of storage and gradually during
the following years.
With sweet clover and red clover, the hard seed content of the seed in cold storage falls off rapidly
during the first or second year in storage, but the seed stored in the laboratory decreases slowly in hard
seed content during storage.
Seed stored with 12 percent moisture loses vitality more rapidly in storage than dry seed. Cold storage
is better than storage in the laboratory for seed with 12 percent moisture.
There is no advantage in keeping non-scarified alfalfa seed in cold storage. With scarified seed,
however, both germination and total vitality are maintained better in cold storage than in the laboratory.
The germination of red clover and sweet clover is higher for seed kept in cold storage than for seed
stored in the laboratory.
The total vitality of sweet clover does not seem to be greatly affected by the method of storage. The
total vitality of red clover seed will he maintained better in cold storage than in the laboratory but the
advantage of low temperatures will not be apparent until after the seed has been in storage from two to
four years.
Jhere cold storage is advantageous as a means of maintaining vitality or increasing the germination,
storage in air-tight bottles is most efficient. Jhen seed is stored in the laboratory, there is no difference
between storage in air-tight bottles or in sacks. JSKPjSCT OF DIFPiiRKOT MKTHODS OF STORAGE UPOH n IL. VITALITY OP
SCAR I PIKD ATO HOH-SCABIPIED SKED 0«* ALFALFA, SWEEtP CLOVER
AJTO PED CLOVER
By
W. D. Hay
B. S . , MOOTAHA STATE COLLEGE OP AGRICULTURE
Aim MECHANIC ARTS, 1924
$ * * * * * * * * * * *
A THESIS
s u b m i t te d i n p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e
r e q u i r e m e n ts f o r t h e d e g r e e o f
MASTER OP SCIESCE
MONTANA STATE COLLEGE
OP AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS
1932
-I-
CONTENTS
■v
P age
I n t r o d u c t i o n ------ ------—------------- ------ -------- -—■
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E x p e r i m e n t a l ---------- -------------------------- ——— - — — ---- ----- ---------------------u r p o a e o f o t u c i y ------- — -------------------------------------------------------— —
e th o d o f p r o c e d u r e
*— —— ————
—— - —■— --------—— "—*—™ **
<i
%
9
9
ea u l t a a n d d i s c u s a i o n ———————————————————— ——————— ------- ——— — 115
.,xp erim en ta w ith a l f a l f a s e e d --------------------------------------------------
1.5
e x p e r im e n ts w i t h sw e e t c l o v e r s e e d -----—— —— — — —----— ------- -
30
e x p e rim e n ts w i t h r e d c lo v e r s e e d ——————------------------- -------------
46
Suianary an d c o n c lu s i o n s — — — — ———— — ——— — ———— —— — ———— 62
A cknow ledgem ents ————————————— — ————— ———— ——— — ———— — 615
L i t e r a t u r e c i t e d ------------ ----- ---------- — —----------——-------------------- -------------
13221
64
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF STORAGE
UPON THE VITALITY OF SCARIFIED a ND NON-SCARIFIe D
SEED OF ALFALFA, SWEET CLOVER AND RED CLOVER
INTRODUCTION
T he phenom enon known a s " im p e rm e a b le " o r " h a r d s e e d " , o c c u r r i n g
i n t h e s e e d s o f le g u m in o s a e , h a s b e e n r e c o g n iz e d f o r many y e a r s .
H ow ever, i t was n o t u n t i l r a t h e r r e c e n t l y t h a t w o rk e rs i n t h e v a r i o u s
f i e l d s o f a g r i c u l t u r e becam e i n t e r e s t e d
i n t h e p r a c t i c a l im p o r ta n c e
o f t h i s p r o b le m .
H ard s e e d s w ere s o named b e c a u s e t h e y a r e n o t r e a d i l y p e rm e a b le
t o w a t e r , h e n c e re m a in lia r d u n d e r c o n d i t i o n s w h ich n o r m a lly a r e
fa v o ra b le to g e rm in a tio n .
F a rm e rs , se e d sm e n and a g r o n o m is ts h a v e
b e e n c o n c e r n e d m a in ly w i t h t h e r e l a t i o n o f h a rd s e e d s t o p l a n t
p r o d u c t i o n and i n t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f m eth o d s t o overcom e t h e e f f e c t
o f h a r d s e e d s upon g e r m i n a t i o n .
F r e e z i n g , e x c e s s i v e h e a t , c h e m ic a ls
a n d s c a r i f i c a t i o n h a v e b e e n t r i e d a s m eth o d s o f m aking h a r d s e e d s
p e r m e a b le , b u t s c a r i f i c a t i o n by m a c h in e ry d e s ig n e d to s c r a t c h o r
c r a c k t h e s e e d c o a t Iuis p ro v e n t h e m ost p r a c t i c a l m ethod o f in d u c in g
p ro m p t g e r m i n a t i o n .
H ow ever, t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f s c a r i f i c a t i o n h a s
a d d e d o t h e r p ro b le m s t o a i
a l r e a d y c o m p lex s i t u a t i o n .
One o f t h e
m ost im p o r ta n t o f t h e s e i s t h e e f f e c t o f s c a r i f y i n g upon t h e k e e p in g
q u a l i t y o f s e e d s to c k s w h ic h m ust n e c e s s a r i l y b e c a r r i e d o v e r from
y ear to y e a r.
—5—
F ig u re I .
A p p e a ra n c e o f h a rd s e e d s , g e r m in a te d s e e d s and
d e c a y e d s e e d s (X 6 ) : A, g e r m in a te d s e e d s ; 3 ,
d e c a y e d s e e d s ; C, h a r d s e e d s .
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
S c a r i f y i n g h a s b e e n s u c c e s s f u l a s a m eth o d o f o v e rc o m in g h a r d
s e e d s i n leg u m e s b e c a u s e t h e s e a t o f im p e r m e a b il it y l i e s s o n e a r t h e
s u rfa c e o f ,th e seed .
S e l s o n ( I g ) w o rk in g w i t h s w e e t p e a s a n d o t h e r l a r g e s e e d e d
leg u m es fo u n d e v id e n c e w h ic h l e d him t o b e l i e v e t h a t I m p e r m e a b il it y
does n o t l i e
in t h e se e d c o a t i t s e l f , b u t i n a v a r n i s h - l i k e c o v e rin g
on t h e s e e d s u r f a c e p r o d u c e d b y t h e p o d .
S c h m id t (1 4 ) b e l i e v e d t h a t
h a r d n e s s o f s e e d s i s d u e t o a waxy s u b s t a n c e c o v e r i n g t h e s e e d c o a t
a n d c o n s i s t i n g o f one l a y e r i n a l f a l f a a n d tw o l a y e r s i n s w e e t c l o v e r
Coe a n d M a r t i n ( 2 ) ^ h o w e v e r, b e l i e v e d t h a t i m p e r m e a b il it y in
s w e e t c l o v e r s e e d was d u e t o a n im p e r v io u s l a y e r known a s t h e
" lig h t lin e " .
T hey d e s c r ib e t h e l i g h t l i n e a s e x te n d in g e n t i r e l y
a ro u n d t h e s e e d c o a t i n t h e o u t e r l a y e r o f t h e t h i c k w a l le d c e l l s
known a s M a lp ig h ia n c e l l s .
T hey fo u n d t h a t s t r u c t u r a l l y , p e rm e a b le
a n d im p e rm e a b le s e e d s d i f f e r m a i n ly i n t h e am ount o f t h i c k e n i n g
w h ic h o c c u r s i n t h e w a l ls o f t h e M a lp ig h ia n c e l l s .
T hey s t a t e t h a t
t h e t h i c k e n i n g o f t h e M a lp ig h ia n c e l l s is , m o re c o m p le te i n t h e
im p e rm e a b le s e e d s , l e a v i n g fe w e r a n d s m a l l e r c a n a l s a c r o s s , t h e l i g h t
l i n e a s w e ll a s c l o s i n g t h e c e l l lu m in a i n t h e r e g i o n o f t h e l i g h t
Iin e 0
M iss L u t e ,
( I l ) , w o rk in g w i t h a l f a l f a , c o n c lu d e d t h a t t h e
a b s o r p t i o n o f w a te r t h r o u g h t h e s e e d c o a t i s g o v e rn e d b y t h e p a l i s a d e
c e l l s and n o t by e i t h e r th e c u t i c l e o r th e l i g h t l i n e .
S h e w as a b l e
t o o b s e r v e n o s t r u c t u r a l d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n h a r d a n d p e r m e a b le s e e d s *
^g■White ('7) s a f t e r a m i c r o s c o p i c a l e x a m in a tio n o f t h e se ed , c o a t s
o f a h o a t .7 0 s p e c i e s o f i r a p e r a e a h le s e e d s c o n c lu d e d t h a t , "A s a
g e n e r a l r u l e i n s m a ll .and m e d iu m -s iz e d s e e d s t h e c u t i c l e i s - w e l l
d e v e lo p e d , a n d r e p r e s e n t s t h e im p e rm e a b le p a r t o f t h e s e e d - c o a t $
w h i l s t i n t h e c a s e o f l a r g e s e e d s t h e c u t i c l e i s e x tr e m e l y u n im p o r ta n t
a n d in c o n s p ic u o u s ^
I n t h e s e s e e d s t h e e x tr e m e r e s i s t a n c e w h ic h
t h e y e x h i b i t a p p e a r s 't o h e l o c a t e d i n t h e p a l i s a d e c e l l s , "
W hitcom h (1 7 )? s t a t e d t h a t M ic h a lo w s k i o f Germ any a n d l l i l s o n
o f Sw eden w e re am ong t h e f i r s t t o d e v e lo p m a c h in e s f o r re d u c in g .'
t h e h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t o f leg u m es b y s c r a t c h i n g o r b r e a k i n g t h e s e e d . '
coat®
T h e m a c h in e p e r f e c t e d b y M ic h a lo w s k i c o n s i s t e d o f tw o r o l l e r s
b e tw e e n w h ic h t h e s e e d was p a s s e d .
One r o l l e r was ro u g h e n e d l i k e
a f i l e , t h e o t h e r was c o v e r e d b y a r u b b e r m a t,
H i l s o n fS m a c h in e
s c r a t c h e d t h e s e e d s b y th r o w in g th em a g a i n s t a n em ery c y l i n d e r w h ic h
r e v o l v e d a t a s p e e d o f 3 ,2 0 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u t e ,
h a t e r m a c h in e s
u se d sa n d p a p e r as t h e a b r a s iv e and s c a r i f i e d t h e se ed b y f o r c in g i t
a g a i n s t t h e s a n d p a p e r w ith , m o to r d r i v e n f a n s .
S t i l l l a t e r d e v e lo p m e n ts
em ployed t h e u s e o f c e n t r i f u g a l f o r c e t o th ro w t h e s e e d s a g a i n s t
ro u g h e n e d s u r f a c e s .
A t f i r s t i n v e s t i g a t o r s w e re e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t s c a r i f i c a t i o n
b e c a u s e l a b o r a t o r y t e s t s show ed t h a t p r a c t i c a l l y a l l o f t h e h a r d s e e d s
c o u ld b e e l i m i n a t e d b y c a r e f u l s c a r i f y i n g .
S eedsm en g u i c k l y a d o p te d
s c a r i f i c a t i o n b e c a u s e i t m ade s e e d s a l e s e a s i e r b y i n c r e a s i n g t h e
p ro m p t g e r m i n a t i o n .
H ow ever, m ore r e c e n t i n v e s t i g a t o r s who h a v e
c o n d u c te d f i e l d t e s t s a n d s t u d i e d t h e l o n g e v i t y o f se e d s, h a v e b eg u n
wSet o d o u b t t h e a d v i s a b i l i t y o f s c a r i f y i n g e x c e p t w h ere a l o t o f s e e d
h a s a n u n u s u a lly h ig h h a rd se e d c o n te n t.
G ra b e r (9 ) s t a t e s t h a t , "W h ile t h e r e s u l t s o f e x p e r im e n ts
i n d i c a t e t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f s c a r i f i c a t i o n f o r t h e im p ro v em en t o f
im m e d ia te g e rm in a tio n ,:i t s i n f l u e n c e on t h e l o n g e v i t y o f a l f a l f a s e e d ,
seems t o h e d e l e t e r i o u s in .c h a r a c te r ."
I h it e o m h ( I ? ) c o n c lu d e d t h a t , " F i e l d t e s t s i n d i c a t e t h a t le g u m i­
n o u s s e e d s w h ic h c o n t a i n a p p r e c i a b l e am o u n ts o f h a r d s e e d s a r e
se ld o m b e n e f i t e d b y t r e a t m e n t a im e d t o r e d u c e t h e h a r d s e e d c o n te n t
e x c e p t i n t h e c a p e o f s w e e t c l o v e r w h ic h i s
-in t h e h u l l o r w h ich
c o n t a i n s ' 50 p e r c e n t o r m o re o f h a r d s e e d s . "
I n r e p o r t i n g o n M s i n v e s t i g a t i o n s w i t h h a r d s e e d s , S c h m id t (1 5 )
s a id , " S c a r if ic a tio n o f a l f a l f a seed need n o t,b e p r a c tic e d ."
:
S i n c e se ed sm e n a n d f a r m e r s f r e q u e n t l y k e e p s e e d i n s t o r a g e f o r
tw o o r m ore y e a r s , t h e e f f e c t o f c o n ti n u e d s t o r a g e upon t h e v i t a l i t y
o f t h e s e e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y i f s c a r i f i e d , b eco m es i m p o r t a n t .
I n s t u d y i n g l o n g e v i t y , D o r p h - P e te r s o n | 4 )
fo u n d t h a t seeds o f
leg u m es w i t h g o o d I n i t i a l g e r m i n a t io n r e t a i n e d i t i n t h e t h i r d
y e a r.
A f t e r t h r e e . y e a r s t h e g e r m i n a t io n d e c l i n e d , b u t t h e h a r d s e e d
c o n t e n t re m a in e d n e a r l y c o n s t a n t .
W ahlen ( I S ) fo u n d r e d c l o v e r t o g e r m i n a t e 2 4 .4 p e r c e n t w i t h
5 5 .8 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d s a f t e r b e in g s t o r e d f o r 1 4 y e a r s ' i n b o t t l e s
a t room t e m p e r a t u r e s .
A l s i k e c l o v e r g e r m in a te d 5 3 .3 p e r c e n t w ith
5 9 .8 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d s .
I a f f e r t y ( 1 0 ) r e p o r t e d t h a t a s a m p le o f r e d c l o v e r s e e d h a v in g
-7 a n o r i g i n a l g e m i n a t i o n o f 9 4 p e r c e n t w i t h 5. p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d s
g e r m i n a t e d S3 p e r c e n t w i t h 4 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d s w hen s t o r e d i n
p a p e r hags- i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y f o r tw o years* a n d o w i t h 3 p e r c e n t
h a r d s e e d s a f t e r 12 y e a rs =
W h ite c l o v e r a n d a l s x k e l o s t v i t a l i t y
m o re g r a d u a l l y * b u t w e re n e a r l y a s lo w a s t h e r e d c l o v e r b y t h o
end o f t h o 12- y e a r p e rio d =
S r a b e r ( 9 ) fo u n d t h a t a l f a l f a s e e d s t o r e d i n a c o o l d r y b a s e ­
m ent show ed a f a i r l y p r o p o r t i o n a t e d e c r e a s e i n g e r m in a ti o n w i t h
age=
Three l o t s o f s e e d g e r m in a te d 47 p e r c e n t a f t e r t h e y h a d b e e n
i n s t o r a g e f o r 1 0 t o 12 y e a r s =
B o w e ll {51 b a s e s t h o f o l l o w i n g c o n c l u s i o n s on t h e r e s u l t s o f
f o u r y e a r s 1 w o rk s
1= " S c a r i f i e d s e e d o f e i t h e r a l f a l f a o r s w e e t c l o v e r may b e s t o r e d
one y e a r w ith o u t s e r io u s lo s s in v i a b i l i t y =
2= " S c a r i f i e d s e e d o f b o t h a l f a l f a a n d s w e e t c l o v e r l o s e v i a b i l i t y
r a p i d l y a f t e r o n e y e a r i n s to r a g e =
3 . " U n s c a r i f i e d sweet c l o v e r s e e d n a y b e k e p t i n s t o r a g e s e v e r a l
y e a r s w ith o u t lo s s i n v i a b i l i t y = ■
4« " H a rd s e e d s i n a l f a l f a becom e v i a b l e a f t e r o n e o r m ore y e a r s i n
. s to r a g e = " '
T h e m e th o d o f s t o r a g e a n d d e g r e e o f h a r d n e s s p l a y a n i m p o r ta n t
p a r t in th e lo n g e v ity o f th e se e d .
B u v a l (S ) fo u n d t h a t t h e v i t a l i t y
o f se ed s, w as b e s t p r e s e r v e d w hen t h e s e e d s w e re c a r e f u l l y h a r v e s t e d
a n d s t o r e d i n a d r y c o m p a r a t i v e l y c o o l p la c e =
The r e s u l t s o f h i s
t e s t s show t h a t a l f a l f a a n d r e d c l o v e r l o s t v i t a l i t y v e r y r a p i d l y
-8 wixen s t o r e d i n t h e s o i l a t t h r e e d e p t h s ; 6 t o 8 in c h e s ,, 18 t o 22 i n c h e s ,
a n d 36' t o 42 i n c h e s .
G oss ( 8 ) r e p o r t i n g on a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f D u v a l’s
wor h f o u n d . t h a t t h e r e w e r e 'n o v i a b l e s e e d s o f a l f a l f a l e f t a f t e r s i x
y e a r s i n s t o r a g e b u t r e d c l o v e r s t i l l h a d . a few v i a b l e s e e d s a f t e r 21
y e a rs.
S e e d o f some s p e c i e s o f w e e d s, h o w e v e r, g e r m in a te d o v e r 90
p e r c e n t a f t e r b e i n g " s to r e d i n t h e s o i l f o r 21 y e a r s .
A f te r ' th e f i r s t
few y e a r s , p r a c t i c a l l y a l l t h e v i a b l e 's e e d s o f r e d c l o v e r a n d a l f a l f a
w e re h a r d s e e d s .
I n 1 8 7 8 , B e a l ( I ) b u r i e d 2 0 l o t s o f f r e s h s e e d s fro m 21 s p e c i e s
i n u n c o rk e d b o t t l e s .
T he s e e d s w e re m ix e d w ith s a n d i n t h e b o t t l e s
a n d b u r i e d 20 i n c h e s 'b elo w t h e s u r f a c e o n a s a n d y k n o l l .
m ade a t f i v e y e a r p e r i o d s .
T e s t s w e re
T h e re w e re n o v i a b l e s e e d s o f w h i t e c l o v e r
a t t h e end o f t h e f i r s t f i v e y e a r p e r io d ,
D a r l i n g t o n ( 3 ) r e p o r t i n g on a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f B e a l 1S e x p e r im e n t,
fo u n d t h a t c e r t a i n s p e c i e s o f w e e d s, n o t a b l y S m a ra n th u s 1, O e n o th e ra a n d
B ra s s ic a s t i l l had good g e m in a tio n a f t e r 40 y e a rs .
One o f t h e m o st c o n v in c i n g r e c o r d s o f l o n g e v i t y i n h a r d s e e d s i s
t h a t r e p o r t e d b y Ohga (1 3 ) i n w h ich h e s e c u r e d 100 p e r c e n t 'g e r m i n a t i o n
fro m s e e d s o f H in d u l o t u s w h ic h h e e s t i m a t e d h a d b e e n b u r i e d n o t l e s s
t h a n 120 y e a r s , a n d m ig h t h a v e b e e n b u r i e d a s lo n g a s 2 0 0 , o r e v e n 400
y e a rs.
T h e s e s e e d s w e re fo u n d fro m o n e - h a l f t o t w o - t h i r d s o f a m e te r
b e lo w t h e s u r f a c e .
E w a rt (7 ) s e c u r e d 7 0 .5 p e r c e n t g e r m i n a t i o n from s e e d s - o f l e l i l o t u s
g r a c i l i s a f t e r t h e y h a d b e e n s t o r e d i n a d r y , a i r y , d a r k c u p b o a rd f o r
50 y e a r s .
He s t a t e s t h a t , "E v en t h e m ost r e s i s t a n t s e e d s a f t e r 50 t o
■
“ S'=*
100 y ea rs shew a p ro n o u n c e d decrease ia t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f germ ination,
a n d t h e g e n e r a l t r e n d o f t h e curves i s s u c h a s t o show th a t th e. prob­
a b le e x tre m e d u r a t i o n o f v i t a l i t y f o r a n y know n s e e d may b e s o t b e ­
tw e e n 150 a n d 2 5 0 y e a r s » M :
-
8XRBBmgBgAJ>
P u r p o s e o f S tu d y
T h i s r e p o r t g i v e s t h e r e s u l t s o f a s t u d y p l a n n e d t o d e te r m in e s
( I ) t h e e f f e c t o f d i f f e r e n t m e th o d s o f s t o r a g e on t h e v i t a l i t y o f
s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r if ie d s e e d s o f a lf a l f a , r e d c lo v e r an d sw eet
c l o v e r 5 (2 ) t h e e f f e c t , o f s c a r i f i c a t i o n on t h e v i t a l i t y . o f t h e s e •
C S ). t h e l e n g t h o f t im e t h a t th e s e s e e d s may
s e e d s d u rin g s to r a g e s
h e s to r e d w ith o u t s e r io u s lo s s o f v i t a l i t y *
L a b o r a t o r y a n d f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n t e s t s - were u s e d a s t h e m e a s u re
o f v ita lity .
T h e t a b l e s a n d g r a p h s .h a v e b e e n a r r a n g e d s o a s t o p r e ­
s e n t t h e d a t a fro m s e v e r a l a n g l e s , a n d t o g i v e t h e . r e a d e r a l l t h e i n ­
f o rm a tio n . a v a i l a b l e fro m t h i s s t u d y . ■
M eth o d o f P r o c e d u r e
.
In J u n e s 1924, one l o t each o f a l f a l f a , sw eet c lo v e r and re d
c l o v e r was d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e p a r t s .
P a r t o n e was c a r r i e d t h r o u g h
t h e e x p e rim e n t w ith o u t s c a r i f i c a t i o n .
U s in g t h e “’Ames H u l l e r and
S c a r i f i e r 1’, * p a r t tw o w as s c a r i f i e d a t a s p e e d o f 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t io n s - .
" '" * X p h o to g r a p h "o”f t h e "Ames H u i l e r a n d S c a r i f i e r ” ’ u s e d in t h is
- e x p e r im e n t i s show n i n F i g u r e 2 . T h e s e e d p a s s e s t h r o u g h t h e
f a n ” B” , a n d a r o u n d t h e lo o p " C " , w h ic h i s l i n e d w i t h c o a r s e
sa n d , p a p e r .
.
-1 0 -
P ig u r e 2 .
Ames H u l l e r a n d S c a r i f i e r u s e d i n s c a r i f y i n g s e e d f o r t h e s e
e x p e r i m e n t s . B, fa n w h ich f o r c e s s e e d a ro u n d lo o p C. C,
lo o p l i n e d w i t h c o a r s e s a n d p a p e r f o r s c r a t c h i n g t h e se e d
c o a t.
*11—
p e r m in u te , a n d p a r t t h r e e a t t h e r a t e o f 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s , p e r m in u te=
A f t e r s c a r i f y i n g p a r t s tw o a n d t h r e e , e a c h o f t h e t h r e e p a r t s o f t h e o r i g n a l l o t was d i v i d e d i n t o s i x l o t s a n d s t o r e d a s f o l l o w s ;
,
A .- C l o t h s a c k ' i n s e e d l a b o r a t o r y , a t t e m p e r a t u r e s r a n g i n g fro m 17 t o
25 d e g re e s c e n tig ra d e B-.»
A i r - t i g h t " b o tt le i n s e e d l a b o r a t o r y , te m p e r a t u r e s a s a b o v e .
S.
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e i n s e e d l a b o r a t o r y , m o is t u r e 12 p e r c e n t , * te m p e ra tu re s a s a b o v e .
C.
C l o t h s a c k i n c o l d sto r a g e , t e m p e r a t u r e s r a n g in g fro m tw o t o
s i x d e g re e s c e n tig r a d e .
D.
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e i n c o ld s to r a g e , te m p e ra tu re s a s a b o v e.
F.
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e i n c o ld s t o r a g e , m o i s t u r e 12 p e r c e n t ,
te m p e ra tu re s a s a b o v e .
■ L a b o ra to ry a n d f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n t e s t s w e re m ade a t t h e t im e t h e
s e e d was p u t i n s t o r a g e .
S i r a i l a r t e s t s .w e re m ade e a c h s p r i n g t h e r e ­
a f t e r t o d e te r m i n e t h e v i t a l i t y o f t h e s e e d a f t e r s t o r a g e .
I n J u n e , 1 9 2 6 , t h r e e a d d i t i o n a l l o t s e a c h o f a l f a l f a , r e d c lo v e r
a n d sweet c l o v e r w e re a d d e d t o t h i s e x p e r i m e n t . . I n t h i s i n s t a n c e ,
t h e l o t s w e re d i v i d e d i n t o tw o p a r t s , o n e s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,4 5 0 r e v o ­
l u t i o n s p e r m in u t e , t h e o t h e r u s e d a s a c h e c k w i t h o u t s c a r i f i c a t i o n .
T he c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h ic h t h e s e e d was s t o r e d f o r t h i s p a r t o f' t h e
e x p e r im e n t w ere t h e sam e a s f o r t h a t s t a r t e d i n J u n e 1 9 2 4 , e x c e p t
t h a t no s e e d w a s . s t o r e d w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e .
'1T h e s e e d s t o r e d w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e i n 1924 h a d a n a v e r a g e '
m o is tu re c o n te n t o f 9 .5 p e r c e n t i n 1952.
F ig u re 3 .
A p p e a ra n c e o f s e e d a f t e r s c a r i f y i n g (X 6 ):
A, s c a r i f i e d b u t sh o w in g no i n j u r y ;
B, s e e d
c o a t c r a c k e d o r c h ip p e d ; C, p o r t i o n o f c o t ­
y le d o n e x p o se d b u t n o t b r o k e n ; D, s m a ll
p o r t i o n o f c l t y l e d o n s b r o k e n aw ay; E , a b o u t
o n e - t h i r d o f c o ty l e d o n s b ro k e n aw ay.
~15—
B l o t t i n g p a p e r was u s e d a s t h e s u b s tr a tu m f o r m ak in g t h e l a b o r a ­
t o r y g e r m i n a t io n t e s t s .
D u p l i c a t e . t e s t s o f 100 s e e d s e a c h w e re made
a t a c o n s t a n t ' t e m p e r a t u r e o f 20 d e g r e e s c e n t i g r a d e .
P re lim ih a ry
c o u n ts w e re m ade i n t h r e e d a y s a n d t h e f i n a l c o u n ts i n s i x d a y s .
T h e f i e l d t e s t s w e re m ade i n t h r e e f o o t row s o n e fo o t- a p a r t :
u s i n g tw o r e p l i c a t i o n s o f 160 s e e d s ,
i n m ak in g t h e f i e l d t e s t s c a r e
was t a k e n t o p r o v i d e a s n e a r optim um s o i l a n d m o is t u r e c o n d i t i o n s a s
p o s s ib le .
T h i r t y t o 50 d a y s w e re r e q u i r e d f o r t h e f i e l d t e s t s .
B-ESULTS MlD DISCUSSION
T a b le s I t o IV , V I I t o 2 and. X I I I t o XVI g i v e t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e
l a b o r a t o r y a n d f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n t e s t s s e c u r e d d u r in g t h i s e x p e r im e n t.
T he " t o t a l v i t a l i t y " o f t h e s e e d fro m y e a r t o y e a r , d e te r m in e d , b y a d d ­
i n g t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p ro m p t g e r m i n a t i o n a n d h a r d s e e d s , i s g i v e n i n
T a b l e s V, V I, X I, X I I , XVH a n d X V I I l.
I n F i g u r e s 4 t o 6 , 10 t o 1 2 ,
a n d 16 t o 1 8 , c o m p a r is o n s o f t h e e f f e c t o f s t o r a g e on t h e g e r m i n a t i o n
an d h a rd se e d p e rc e n ta g e s o f s c a r i f i e d se e d and n a n - s c a r i f ie d se e d
a r e show n g r a p h i c a l l y .
m e th o d s o f s t o r a g e .
T h e s e r e s u l t s w e r e o b t a i n e d by. a v e r a g in g a l l
F i g u r e s 7 t o 9., 13 t o 1 5 , a n d 19 t o 21 show t h e
e f f e c t o f d i f f e r e n t m e th o d s o f s t o r a g e u p o n t h e g e r m i n a t i o n a n d h a r d
s e e d p e r c e n t a g e s w hen a l l t e s t s f o r e a c h m eth o d o f s t o r a g e w e re
a v e ra g e d .
E x p e r im e n ts W ith A l f a l f a S e e d
S c a r i f y i n g a l f a l f a s e e d i n c r e a s e d t h e i n i t i a l l a b o r a t o r y g e rm in a ­
tio n .
T hese In c r e a s e s
i n g e r m i n a t io n w e re c a r r i e d t h r o u g h t h e f i r s t
T a b le I
L a b o r a to r y g e r m i n a t i o n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n - s c a r i f i e d a l f a l f a s e e d
s to r e d u nder d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
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L o t S q a r i f i - S t o r a g e Germ, a . s .
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_ N o n -sc ari f i e d
S c a r i f i e d 2885 R.P.M,
1926
F ig u re 4 .
1928
1930
L a b o r a to r y g e r m i n a t io n o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r i f i e d
a lf a lf a seed.
1931
P e r c e n t a g e o f g e r m i n a t io n
-1 7 -
L egend
H o n -a c a rifie d
S c a r i f i e d 2450 B .P .M
1927
F ig u re 5
F i e l d g e r m i n a t io n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n - s c a r i f i e d a l f a l f a
seed.
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N o n -a c a rifie d
1924
F ig u re 6
1927
1930
H ard s e e d c o n t e n t o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r i f ie d a l f a l f a
seed.
—19«»
y e a r o f s t o r a g e , b u t a f t e r ,two y e a r s , t h e g e r m i n a t io n o f t h e s c a r i f i e d
s e e d was p r a c t i c a l l y t h e sam e a s t h a t o f t h e n o n - s c a r l f i e d s e e d , a n d
f o r t h e r e m a in d e r o f t h e e x p e rim e n t w as lo w e r t h a n t h a t o f t h e n o n s e a rifie d lo t,
iUhe i n i t i a l g e r m i n a t io n o f t h e n o n - a c a i - i f l e d a l f a l f a
s e e d w as SI p e r c e n t ; * when s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te ,
75 p e r c e n t ; a n d a t 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s , 81 p e r c e n t ,
(ia h le I ),
I f an
a v e r a g e o f a l l m eth o d s o f s t o r a g e c a n b e t a k e n a s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , t h e
g e r m i n a t i o n a f t e r tw o y e a r s o f s t o r a g e w as 41 p e r c e n t f o r t h e n o h ■ s c a r if i e d s e e d , a n d 42 a n d 41 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y f o r t h e s c a r i f i e d
seed.
I n 1 9 5 1 , a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s o f s t o r a g e , t h e g e r m i n a t i o n w as 5 7 ,
2 9 , a n d IS p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y ,
(F ig u re 4 ) .
F h e hard s e e d * c o n te n t
o f b o t h s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n - s c a r i f i e d a l f a l f a d e c r e a s e d r a p i d l y d u r in g
t h e f i r s t y e a r , a n d m ore g r a d u a l l y t h e r e a f t e r ,
Fhe i n i t i a l h a rd
s e e d c o n t e n t was 56 p e r c e n t f o r t h e n a n -s c a r ifie d s e e d , 2 5 p e r c e n t ■
f o r t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te , a n d 1 5 p e r c e n t
f o r t h a t s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te .
I n ' 1925, a f t e r
o n e y e a r o f s t o r a g e i t was 2 1 , 1 1 , a n d 4. p e r c e n t , a n d i n 1 9 5 1 , a f t e r
s e v e n y e a r s , 7 , 3 , a n d I p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y . ( F ig u r e 6 ) .
S e e d c o n t a i n i n g 12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e a n d , s t o r e d i n a i r - t i g h t
b o ttle s
i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y show ed t h e m ost m ark e d d e c r e a s e i n g e rm i­
n a t i o n . . ( F i g u r e -7 ),
F h e i n i t i a l 'g e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e n o n - s c a r i f i e d
'* $ h e ~ g e rm in a tio n a s s t a t e d b y s e e d c o m p a n ie s on t h e i r l a b e l s i s
t h e sum o f t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p ro m p t g e r m i n a t i o n a n d h a r d s e e d s
b u t t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f g e r m i n a t io n a s u s e d i n t h i s p a p e r d o e s n o t
in c lu d e h a rd s e e d s .
'
*The te r m h a r d s e e d i s u s e d i n t h i s p a p e r t o d e s i g n a t e s e e d s w h ich
r e m a in e d im p e rm e a b le t o water d u r in g t h e s i x d a y g e r m i n a t i o n t e s t .
T a b le H I
F i e l d g e r m i n a t io n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d .n o n - s c a r i f l e d a l f a l f a s e e d
s to r e d u nder d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
1926
1927
1929
1928
L o t S c a r i f i ­ S t o r a g e 1924 • 1925
1930
1931
No. c a t i o n m eth o d Gem=% Oerm.% Germ.% G ertn.^ Germ.% G erm .$ Germ.% Germ.;
I
none
A
B
B
C
B ‘
F
45
36
30
52
24
34
. 31
I
2040
B .P .M .
A
B
E '
C
B
F
42
27
38
28
36
30
26
I
2885
B .P .M .
A
B
E
C
B
F
46
25
31
29
41
44
36
•
.
41
34
23
36
33
33
26
15
. ,.'.21
23
29
41 .
20
23
16
31
36
39
40
45
15
19
34
26
34
27
20
18
34.
27
36,
38
8
26
53
36
13
23
6
24
26
17
32
23
6
18
29
23
19
24
13
19
25
25
22
27
14
14
25
22
28
32
14
22
44
39
10
17
3
13
13
7
16
14
5
14
16
11
9
11
4
11
20
14
15
15
3
13
21
16
20
17
. 2
1.4
33
34
6
9
I
7
14
14
8
2
I
5
5
6
Table IV
F i e l d g e r m i n a t io n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n - s c a r i f i e d a l f a l f a
se e d s to r e d u nder d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
L o t S c a r i f i ­ S t o r a g e 1926
H o, c a t i o n m eth o d Germ.
2
5
none
2450
none
A .
B
52
70
78
2450
E.P.M e
4
2450
B = P J i.
47
22
31
26
C
63
57
77
43
67
42
35
. 50
42
50
47
65
•' 64
18
24
47
SB
11
10
14
11
74
79
77
69
51
55
56
54
77
83
65
56
45
51
78
20
24
30
35
24
12
33
29 ■
6
14
20
9
73
41 38
• 53
53
A
B
0
B
40
A
B
0
63
'
■A
B
45
C
none
41
40
42
48
B
B
■4
• 64
67
69
D
5
51
49
A
B
C.
• B
■ 74
A
B
C
B
58
-
60
50
49
64 '
66
60
27
60
51
57
55
37
48
42
41
69
56
71
73
60
66
71
54
66
63
56 .
50
40
66
69
54
61
62
61
69 '
65
44
40
48
44
59
25
. 41
72
42
26
29
66
'
5 •
20 ’
35
SG
IZ -
2
1927
1928
1929
1930
1951
G e r m . G erm .^ Gerra=^ Germ=$ G erza.$
P e r c e n t a g e o f g e r m i n a t io n
-2 2 -
L egend
S ack s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
_____ A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
- -— S a c k c o ld s t o r a g e
— . — A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e c o ld s t o r a g e
-------- 12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
— 12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e c o l d s t o r a g e
1928
1925
F ig u re 7.
1930
L a b o r a to r y g e r m i n a t io n o f a l f a l f a s e e d c o m p a rin g d i f f e r e n t
m eth o d s o f s t o r a g e . ( S e e p a g e 13)
-2 3 >
L egend
- Sack se e d l a b o r a to r y
A ir - tig h t b o t t l e seed la b o r a to r y
S a c k c o ld s t o r a g e
A l r - t i f r h t b o t t l e c o ld s t o r a g e
„ -----12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
— ■ " ----- 12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e c o ld s t o r a g e
.....
j
y
L
^
/ X
\V
//
\/
\
Er
NX\\
N
P e r c e n ta g e o f g e r m i n a t io n
/ ■
/ / |\ r < / / LX
\ W
n rv :
V
\ -------------
¥ .............
i
V
____
\ \Xv\ X
X
/
\
’x
••
-
r—
-.V
\
---------- 7 "
.. /
>
y /
,
\
X%
\ \
X \
V
\
NX A
\
\
\
/
>
y*
r
X
——• • ------- X. ^ r
X
1924
F ig u re 8 .
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
.
1930
F i e l d g e r m i n a t io n o f a l f a l f a s e e d c o m p a rin g d i f f e r e n t
m ethods o f s t o r a g e . (S e e p a g e 13)
1931
P e rc e n ta g e o f h a rd se ed s
-2 4 -
F ig u re 9 .
H ard s e e d c o n t e n t o f a l f a l f a
s t o r a g e . (S e e p a g e 13)
c o m p a rin g d i f f e r e n t m ethods o f
-2 5 a l f a l f a s e e d -was 61 p e r c e n t p i n s 35 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d .
( S a b le I .) »
I n th e seen n d y e a r# t h e n o n - s c a r if ie d se e d s to r e d i n th e la b o r a to r y
a t 12 p e r c e n t M o is t u r e g e r m in a te d 47 p e r c e n t p l u s 12 p e r c e n t h a r d
seed.
T h e f i n a l g e r m i n a t i o n i n 1931" was 17 p e r c e n t p i n s . 5 p e r c e n t
h a rd se e d .
T h i s l o s s i n g e r m i n a t io n was ev en m ore p r o n o u n c e d f o r
t h e s c a r i f i e d s e e d s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e .
T h e 1931 g e r m i n a t i o n o f t h i s se ed , s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r
m in u te w as 12 p e r c e n t p l u s 2 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d , a n d t h a t s c a r i f i e d a t
2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te was o n l y I p e r c e n t , w i t h n o h a r d s e e d s .
On t h e o t h e r h a n d s e e d w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e d i d n o t d e c re a s e - a n y
m o re r a p i d l y i n g e r m i n a t i o n t h a n t h e d r y s e e d w hen k e p t i n c o ld
s to r a g e . (F ig u re 7 ) ,
F i g u r e 7 a l s o show s t h a t t h e r e was n o a d v a n ta g e i n h a v in g t h e
s e e d i n a i r - t i g h t b o t t l e s when s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y ..
From 1926
o n , h o w e v e r, t h e s e e d s t o r e d i n a i r - t i g h t b o t t l e s i n c o l d s t o r a g e
g av e t h e h ig h e s t g e rm in a tio n .
A f t e r 1927 s e e d k e p t i n s a c k s i n c o l d
s t o r a g e h a d lo w e r g e r m i n a t i o n t h a n s e e d k e p t i n s a c k s i n t h e l a b o r a ­
to ry .
T h e g e r m i n a t i o n o f a l f a l f a u n d e r f i e l d c o n d i t i o n s was n o t i n ­
c re a s e d .b y s c a r if y in g ..
T h e i n i t i a l g e r m i n a t io n s w e re 4& p e r c e n t f o r
t h e n o n - s c a r i f i e d s e e d , 42 p e r c e n t f o r t h a t s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o ­
l u t i o n s p e r m in u te a n d 46 p e r c e n t f o r t h a t s c a r i f i e d a t 8*885 r e v o ­
l u ti o n s p e r m in u te .
( T a b le 111 j =
YJith t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e s e e d
s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y w ith 12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e t h e f i e l d g e rm i­
n a t i o n o f t h e n u n - s c a r i f i e d s e e d f e l l o f f s lo w ly d u r in g t h e l e n g t h
T a b le V
P e r c e n t t o t a l v i t a l i t y ^ o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r i f le d a l f a l f a se e d
s to r e d u n d er d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
L ot S c a r i f i ­ S to ra g e
B o. c a t i o n m eth o d
I
none
I
2040
RoP .Mo
■A
B
E
C
D
F
,
I
2885
R.P.M.
.
1924
97
1925
82
64
59 '
79
82
79
1926
1927
1928
68
45
39
62
71
64
61
63
35
50
71.
64
62
50
26
46
74
76
1929
54
50
21
47
64
56 .
1930
1931
48
51
25
44
60
49
49
50
23
35
64’
50
A
B ■
E
O
D
F
98
80
79
. 56
78
82
76
37
58
SI
53
61
58
42
35
24
45
65
54
43
. 43
23
37
55
50
38
39
26
41
. 48
46
36
■33
14
32
48
36
39
36
14
25
39
42
A
B
. E
C ,
D
F
96
74
76
53
82
69
71
29
35
18
58
64
64
25
24
8
44
59
54
30
27
4
24
52
42
29
25
2
19
48
47
28
19
3
22
42
58
23
21
I
. 11
27
20
^ P e r c e n t t o t a l v i t a l i t y d e te r m in e d by a d d in g p e r c e n t p ro m p t g e r m i n a t io n
and p e rc e n t o f h a rd s e e d s .
T aU e TI
P e r c e n t t o t a l v i t a l i t y o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r if ie d
a l f a l f a se e d s to r e d under d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
Lot S c a r i f i - S to ra g e
Ho o c a t i o n m ethod
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
2
none
A
B
G
D
9?
88
91
88
94
79
80
'88
85
80 .
79
89
89
76
78
84
86
77
75
80
75
2
£450
EoPoHe
A
B
C
84
82
80
85
84
66
64
88
86
49
47
76
75 .
47
47
72
71 *
39
42
70
73
Vb
3
3 .
no n e
A
B .
G
D
94
90
85
90
82
87
88
85
92
81
88
■ 88
. 86
82
81
84
78
78
79
76
.86
2450
EoPoM=
A
B
C .
D
79
79
83
78
71
63
55
73
76
45
60
67
69
38
38
74
59
37
40
61
60
4
none
A
B
C
D
96
90
93
92
98
92
94
95
95
91
94
94
93
90
86
95.
85
84
82
89
89
4
2450
H=PoM=
A
B
G
D
89
86
86
85
85
72
•68
67
89
59
69
85
89
56
65
81
81
56
54
71
69
T h e s c a r i f i e d s e e d l o s t v i t a l i t y more r a p i d l y
o f tk e e x p e rim e n t.
{F i g u r e S ) a l t h o u g h th e - d e c r e a s e w as n o t a s ' p ro n o u n c e d a s w a s .t h e
c a s e w ith t h e " b lo tte r t e a t s ,
f i g u r e 8 sh o w s t h e e f f e e t o f d i f f e r e n t '
m e th o d s o f s t o r a g e o n f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n .
S eed s to re d in th e la b o ra ­
t o r y w ith 12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e l o s t v i t a l i t y v e r y r a p i d l y .
T h e r e was
no g r e a t d i f f e r e n c e "betw een t h e o t h e r m eth o d s o f s t o r a g e , a l t h o u g h
s e e d k e p t i n a i r - t i g h t " b o tt le s -in c o l d s t o r a g e c o n s i s t e n t l y g a v e '
s l i g h t l y h ig h e r g e rm in a tio n ,
_
I t w i l l h e n o te d t h a t th e f i e l d g e rm in a tio n o f a l f a l f a se e d '
was h i g h e r i n 1929 than- i n 1 9 2 8 ,
T h i s " b e lie v e d t o "be d u e t o t h e
a lm o s t i d e a l c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h ic h t h e - f i e l d t e s t s w e r e m ade I n
1929s w h e re as„ th e t e s t s
a v e ra g e c o n d itio n s .
i n o t h e r y e a r s w e re m ade u n d e r m ore n e a r l y
S w eet c l o v e r a n d r e d c l o v e r a l s o show ed h i g h e r
g e r m i n a t i o n r e s u l t i n g fro m t h e e x c e p t i o n a l l y f a v o r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s
p re v a ilin g i n 1929.
T he t o t a l v i t a l i t y o f t h e a l f a l f a s e e d * ' d e te r m in e d b y a d d in g
t h e p e r c e n t a g e s o f p ro m p t g e r m i n a t i o n and. h a r d s e e d s , i s show n i n
T a b l e s V a n d V I.
S c a r i f i c a t i o n d id n o t a f f e c t th e t o t a l v i t a l i t y o f
t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d i n 1 9 2 4 , b u t lo w e r e d t h e v i t a l i t y .o f t h a t s c a r i f i e d
in 1928.
T h e s e e d s t o r e d I n 1924 show ed r a p i d d e c r e a s e s i n t o t a l
v i t a l i t y d u r i n g t h e f i r s t tw o y e a r s o f s t o r a g e b u t f e l l o f f s lo w ly
d u r i n g t h e r e m a in d e r o f t h e e x p e r i m e n t . . T h e n o n - s c a r i f i e d s e e d r e ­
ta in e d i t s v i t a l i t y to a g r e a te r d e g re e th a n th e s c a r i f i e d s e e d .
T h e s e e d s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e l o s t v i ­
t a l i t y m o st r a p i d l y w h i l e t h a t s t o r e d i n a i r - t i g h t b o t t l e s i n c o ld
f a b le ,H I
L a b o r a t o r y g e r m i n a t io n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n - s c a r i f i e d s w e e t c lo v e r s e e d
s to r e d u n d er d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
I
CO
I
none
VL
1924
I
2885
BoPe-Mo
O
sn
toI
VL
1925
1926
9
CO
S
I
CO
©
to
S
&
Sn
to
W
Vl
Vl
VL
Vl
1928
1929
1927
i
CO
%
O
S9
VL
to
W
V l
1930
1931
66
69
75
39
46
24
14
17
2
55
50
44
71
68
58
32
40
30
16
17
2
49
48
48
69
67
68
21
39
24
17
17
I
41
48
50
68
67
63
36
41
27
18
16
I
34
43
35
55
72
SO
29
37
20
15
17
3
35
47
34
68
71
57
27
34
28
A
B
E
C
B
F
48
43
51
52
31
75
64
69
34
38
52
18
27
16
34
47
25
61
60
64
45.
34
35
21
22
18
45
34
21
47
65
48
30
38
28
16
18
14
39
39
23
48
55
42
04
37
28
17
20
16
SO
32
18
36
58
36
38
42.
24
17
2l
16
39
02
12
28
49
42
33
29
27
13
16
A
B
E
C
B
F
61
26
22
16
612
11
38
35
5
70
62
57
22
16
14
38
39
2
45
54
28
21
17
12
5
35
22
3
40
67
33
20
16
9
8
25
31
19
16
10
8
36
33
2
36
40
10
59
65
- 35'
81
80
77
7
10
9
7
9
7
7
I
27
49
21
7
6
ES
Vl
..
24
22
3
'5 8
41
58
30
CO
CD
72
F
2040
B .P*iSo
I
co
20
A
B
E
C
B
I
EO
O
O
e
L ot S c a r i f i - S to ra g e
Sb=, e a t I on m eth o d
a
12
12
4
40
44
23
69
68
53
21
27
20
29
30
15
42
. 54
25
43
SI
31
11
13
8
12
21
12
6
.33
35
I
29
25
16
4
7
9
44
12
8
.
4
5
5
-3 0
s t o r a g e h a d a c o n s i s t e n t a d v a n ta g e e v e r t h e o t h e r m e th o d s o f s t o r a g e .
T h e t h r e e l o t s o f a l f a l f a a d d e d t o t h i s e x p e rim e n t i n 1926 w e re
s e l e c t e d h e c a n s e o f t h e i r e x c e p t i o n a l l y h i g h h a r d se ed , c o n t e n t s
A lth o u g h t h e s e l o t s w ere i n s t o r a g e o n ly f i v e y e a r s, t h e r e s u l t s a r e
s i m i l a r t o t h o s e o b t a i n e d fro m t h e s e e d s t o r e d i n 1 9 2 4 .
The f i e l d
g e r m i n a t i o n w as lo w e r w i t h t h e s c a r i f i e d s e e d h u t t h e i n i t i a l l a b o r a ­
t o r y g e r m i n a t i o n was I n c r e a s e d -by s c a r if ic a t io n .
The h a rd seed con­
t e n t o f t h e s e l o t s d e c r e a s e d r a p i d l y d u r i n g t h e f i r s t tw o y e a r s o f
s t o r a g e h u t t h e g e r m i n a t i o n " i n c r e a s e d . ( T a b le I l ) .
A f t e r tw o y e a r s
o f s t o r a g e , h o w e v e r, t h e g e r m i n a t io n s lo w ly d e c r e a s e d .
v ita lity
The lo ss in
i n b o t h t h e l a b o r a t o r y a n d f i e l d t e s t s was s lo w e s t w i t h t h e
s a m p le s o f h i g h e s t h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t a n d t h e s c a r i f i e d s e e d l o s t v i ­
t a l i t y m ost r a p i d l y .
From, t h e ' s t a n d p o i n t o f t o t a l v i t a l i t y t h e r e was;
n o a d v a n ta g e i n f a v o r o f a n y m eth o d o f s t o r a g e f o r t h e n o n - o e a r i f i e d
s e e d s t o r e d i n 1926*
I n t h e c a s e o f s c a r i f i e d s e e d , h o w e v e r, co ld ;
s t o r a g e b e g a n t o show a d e c id e d a d v a n ta g e a f t e r t h e s e c o n d year,..
( T a b le V I ) ,
E x p e r im e n ts W ith S w ee t G lo v e r S e e d
.
-
T h e r e s u l t s s e c u r e d fro m t h e e s p e r in te n ts w ith s w e e t c l o v e r s e e d
.
d i f f e r fro m t h o s e o b t a i n e d w i t h a l f a l f a s e e d i n f o u r i m p o r t a n t p o i n t s s
{31 t h e l o s s o f v i t a l i t y
i n s t o r a g e w as n o t a s r a p i d ; ( g ) t h e h a r d
s e e d c o n te n t d id n o t d e c re a s e r a p id ly d u rin g th e f i r s t y e a r o f s t o r ­
a g e b u t d e c re a s e d g r a d u a lly d u rin g t h e e n t i r e le n g th o f t h e e x p e ri­
m e n t; ( 3 ) s c a r i f y i n g i n c r e a s e d t h e f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n w h ic h b e n e f i t
was s t i l l a p p a r e n t a f t e r t h e s e e d h a d b e e n i n s t o r a g e f o r s i x y e a r s
' T a b le V I I I
L a b o r a t o r y g e r m i n a t io n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n - s c a r i f i e d s w e e t c l o v e r s e e d
s to r e d under d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
1926
. 1927
L o t S c a r i f i f S t o r a g e Berm , H=S» Germ, HoS =
P ercen t
. P e rce n t
Ho o c a t i o n m eth o d
E
2
none
2450
BfP ,Mt
5
3
4
4
no n e
2450
BoP
none
2450
BoPsM=
A
B
C
B
18
A
B
C
D
72
A
B
O
B
35
A
B
G
B
59
A
B
C
B
18
A.
B
O
B
70
.55'
9
43
71
16
1929
Germ= HoS =
P e rce n t
15
19
22
22
61
59
55
51
16
17
25
34
55
49
38
44
14
15
44
29
67
68
76
72
5
7
3
8
54
66
70
6
12
6
4
49
34
30
14
21
48
' 44
53
37
40
59
57
53
25
25
55
37
60
66
81
64
14
5
9
8
54
71
69
29
16
1928
Germ= HeS =
P e rce n t
76
67
25
58
20
65
IS
25
25
17
63
70
27
46
63
75
75
16
65
10
11
9
65
74
70
92
57
55
32
53
68
62
53
53
51
45
9
5
2
6
45
49
35
33.
10
15
11
7
8
11
50
50
63
58
48
54
21
18
62
54
49
26
12
10
8
6
47
47
65
67
61
57
1950
Gdrm= H=S =
P e rce n t
.
U
16
36
34
88
47
■ 54
52
67
57
55
34
35
8
9
54
44
56
48
9
8
5
6
4
4
09
7
4
2
I
26
01
55
41
29
24
42
12
40
7
5
5
7 ■
55
§
■ 65
1931
Germ= H=S
P e rce n t
47
61 •
56
14
18
30
28 -
68
52
53
17
U
7
7
45
39
56
56
11
12
.8
7
65
55
56
44
21
40
19
51
55
36
29
26
46
44
6
10
2
2
17
15
'41
40
49
64
27
34
34
46
8
6
3
4
55
48
8
9
I
M
H
I
-3 2 -
Legend
K on-scarified
1927
F i g u r e 10 .
L a b o r a t o r y g e r m i n a t i o n o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r i f i e d
sweet c lo v e r se ed .
1931
-3 3 '
80
Legend
- N o n - a c a r i f led
- S c a r i f i e d 2040 E.P.M,
- S c a r i f i e d 28 85 E.P.M,
• S c a r i f i e d 2450 E.P.M
1926
F i g u r e 11 .
1927
1929
1930
F i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - a c a r i f i e d sweat
clover seed.
1831
b u t d i a a p p a a r e a i n t h e s o y e n th y o a r ; ( 4 ) s e e d k e p t i n c o l d s t o r a g e
g a v e h i g h e r g e r m i n a t i o n b o t h i n th e . l a b o r a t o r y and. i n t h e f i e l d t h a n
o a e d s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y a lt h o u g h t h e .hard s e e d c o n t e n t o f t h e
s e e d s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y re m a in e d t h e h i g h e s t *
S h e i n i t i a l l a b o r a t o r y g e r m i n a t io n -of th e - n o n -o e a r l f l e d s w e e t
c l o v e r s e e d s t o r e d i n 1S 24 rm s 2 0 p e r c e n t ; f o r t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t
2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u t e , 48 p e r c e n t ; a n d f o r t h a t s c a r i f i e d , a t
2 3835 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u t e , 81 p e r c e n t*
t h e i n i t i a l h a rd -se e d ,
c o n t e n t w as 7 2 , 45 a n d SO p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y *
( T a b le VIS-Ja- I n
1 9 8 5 , a f t e r tw o y e a r s i n s t o r a g e t h e a v e r a g e g e r m i n a t io n o f a l l ■
m e th o d s o f s t o r a g e was SG p e r c e n t f o r t h e n c n - s o a r i f i e d s e e d , i f '
p e r c e n t f o r t h a t s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s - p e r m in u t e atoi 44
p e r c e n t f o r t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t Z i, 885 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m i n u t e .
I n 1 5 3 1 , a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , i t w as 2 2 , 3 3 , a n d 25 p e r c e n t r e s p e c ­
tiv e ly ^
( F i g u r e 1 0 ) . -TJie l ia r d s e e d c o n t e n t - a f t e r tw o y e a r s m s 5 0 ,
2 9 , a n d 13 p e r c e n t ; a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , 4 5 , 2 5 , a n d 10 p e r c e n t r e ­
s p e c t i v e l y * <F i g u r e . 1 2 )»
T h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d , a t 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s
p e r m in u te d i d n o t r e t a i n i t s v i t a l i t y a s l o n g a s . t h a t r e c e i v i n g
t h e l e s s s e v e r e s c a r i f i c a t i o n a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te *
As was t h e c a s e w i t h a l f a l f a t h e s e e d s t o r e d i n a i r - t i g h t
b o t t l e s i n t h e - l a b o r a t o r y w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e l o s t v i t a l i t y
m o re r a p i d l y t h a n t h e s e e d s t o r e d i n a n y o th e r, m an n er a lt h o u g h t h e
h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t o f t h e n o n - s c a r i f in d - s e e d s t o r e d b y t h i s m eth o d
r e m a in e d h ig h *
A g a i n s t a n i n i t i a l g e r m i n a t i o n o f 2 0 p e r c e n t- p l u s .
72 p e r c e n t h a rd , s e e d f o r t h e n o n - s o a r i f l e d s e e d , ' t h e g e m i n a t i o n i n
-3 5 -
Legend
N o n - s c a r i f i ed
S c a r i f i e d 2^40 B .P. ?f
• S c a r i f i e d 2450 P.P. M
oi
45
S
30
1924
F ig u re 12.
1927
Hard s e e d c o n t e n t o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r i f l e d sweet
clover seed.
1931
"58—
1926 was 2 pdpcent p l u s 58 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a n d i n 1951, 4 p e r ­
c e n t p l u s 55 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d .
F o r .the s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 -
r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te t h e i n i t i a l g e r m i n a t i o n was 48 p e r c e n t p l u s
43 p e r c e n t h a rd , s e e d , i n 1926, 2.3 p e r c e n t p l u s 35 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d
a n d i n 1 9 3 1 , 15 p e r c e n t p l u s 51. p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d .
T h e .se e d s c a r i ­
f i e d a t 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te had a n i n i t i a l g e r m i n a t i o n .Cf
S I p e r c e n t p l u s 50 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d .
I n 1926 i t was 5 p e r c e n t p l u s
14 p e rc e n t h a rd s e e d and i n 1931, I p e rc e n t p lu s 4 p e r c e n t h a rd s e e d .
[ T a b le T H ) .
T h i s lo w e re d v i t a l i t y d u e t o .s to r a g e i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y
w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e was a l s o v e r y marked i n t h e f i e l d t e s t s .
( T a b le DC).
S e e d w ith 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e d i d n o t l o s e v i t a l i t y s o r a p i d l y '
w hen k e p t i n c o l d s t o r a g e , b u t l o s t v i t a l i t y m o re r a p i d l y t h a n s e e d
s to r e d w ith l e s s m o is t u r e .; T h is p o in t w i l l b e b e s t u n d e rs to o d by
s t u d y i n g T a b l e XI..
T he s t o r a g e o f n o n - s c a r i f i e d s w e e t c l e v e r s e e d , a t low te m p e ra ­
t u r e s i n c r e a s e d t h e g e r m i n a t io n a n d lo w e re d t h e h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t b y
a p p r o x i m a t e ly 100 p e r c e n t i n c o m p a r is o n w i t h t h e seed, s t o r e d i n t h e
l a b o r a t o r y . ( T a b le V I l ) .
T h e b e n e f i c i a l e f f e c t a p p e a r e d a f t e r one
y e a r o f s to ra g e and h e ld t r u e a f t e r sev en y e a r s .
The s c a r i f i e d se e d
a l s o show ed a n a d v a n ta g e i n f a v o r o f c o l d s t o r a g e , b u t to ' a l e s s e r
d e g re e .
E x c lu d in g - t h e s e e d s t o r e d w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e , t h e
a v e r a g e g e r m i n a t io n o f t h e n o n - s c a r i f i e d s e e d a f t e r o n e y e a r i n c o ld
s t o r a g e was 50 p e r c e n t p l u s 42 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a n d f o r t h e s e e d
s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y , 2 5 p e r c e n t p l u s 67 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d .
T a b le IX
F i e ld g e rm in a tio n o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r if ie d sw eet c lo v e r
s e e d s to r e d under d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
1925
1926
1926
L o t S c a y i f i - S t o r a g e 1924
1927
1929
1950
1951
Mo, c a t i o n m eth o d Gernn% GermVj% G e m .$ Gerra0^ Gerra0^ Germe^ G eriru^ G erra,^
I
none
14
4
B
B
e
D
F
I
2040
B.P.M,
I
2885
EcBtM,
4
B
E
0
B
F
54
4
B
' E
G
I)
F
45
*
13
13
3
34
57
41
30
55
17
40
47
46
25
27
19
44
41
46
8
7
6
26
28
23
27
27
10
08
24
19
22
37
45
41
36
32
47
38
37
27
55
34
24
25
7
41
41
36
40
6
20
42
25 . ■
28
9
7
4
15
23
22
23
31
16
41
37
41
5
5
6
17
21
16
16
12
5 '
18
27
17
18
16
17
53
12
17
9
I
11
23
4
26
26
11
51
' 59
SI
40
37
65
36
8
25
7
26
25
15
27
20
37
54
2
SO
51
15
20
21
2
16
27
8
6
23
84
15
20
42
6
Table X
F i e l d g e r m i n a t io n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n ~ s c a r i f i e d s w e e t c l o v e r
seed s to r e d u n d er d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
L o t S c a r i f i - S t o r a g e 1926
1927
1928
1929
1990
19SI
E o o c a t i o n m ethod G erm .^ Gerra=^ Germ=^ G erm .5? Germ0^ G e m .^
2
none
A
13
B
C
D
2
2450
A
B.P.M,
B
40
C
D
3
none
A
18
B
'
‘
3
C
D
2450
A
B .BoiE.
B
30
G
D
4
4'
none
A
.11
13
11
28
21
9
8
19
15
14
13
35
34
3
I ,
18
39
46
56
54
21
24
36
42
45
58
43
26
21
24
20
33
39
47
17
■ 9
24
16
26
14
11
34
41
43
98
56
28
30
19
23
B
SI
G
D
28
26
2450
A
B.P.M.
B
C
D
42
43
35
44
58
96
28
46
44
16
27
29
6
2
17
13
15
22
20
17
8
11
17
24
22
30
23
24
21
18
13
SI
46
46
52
55
15
12
18
14
27
18
36
29
7
6
14
12
16
8
24
17
25
5349
45
56
25
25
15
15
18
22
25
16
55
36
34
20
I
w
CO
I
-3 9 80
Legend
Sack s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e seed l a b o r a t o r y
Sack c o l d s t o r a g e
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e cold sto ra g e
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e c o l d s t o r a g e
75
V
x™
70
//
65
> v
60
Percentage of germ ination
45
40
' \\
A
K
V
55
50
X
*>
—
T ~
pzz=*V
V
35 ----- V--------
25
A
: X
.
x,
\ \
\ \
\ \
V V
'
—
X
L
T~. --------------N
**
\
~
A
\
20
.
X-
A
V
30
.
A
X
A
X
N
—T----------\
15
\
10
\
__________
—
5
1924
F i g u r e 13 .
—
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
L a b o r a t o r y g e r m i n a t i o n o f s w e e t c l o v e r s e e d co m p a rin g
d i f f e r e n t methods o f s t o r a g e . (See p a g e 13)
.
1921
-40'
A f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , i t was 42 p e r c e n t p l u s 2 4 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a n d 12
p e r c e n t p l u s 68 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d r e s p e c t i v e l y .
A f te r o n e y e a r i n c o ld s to r a g e t h e f i e l d g e rm in a tio n o f t h e n o n s c a r i f i e d s e e d w as 36 p e r c e n t a n d a f t e r o n e y e a r i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y ,
13 p e r c e n t .
A f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , 22 a n d 14 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y .
F o r t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te t h e
g e r m i n a t i o n was 70 p e r c e n t p l u s 22 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a f t e r one y e a r
i n c o l d s t o r a g e , a n d 52 p l u s 36 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a f t e r one y e a r i n
th e la b o ra to ry .
A f t e r s e v e n y e a r s t h e g e r m i n a t io n was 48 a n d 31 p e r ­
c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y a n d t h e h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t 12 a n d 37 p e r c e n t r e s p e c ­
tiv e ly ,
T h e f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n was 4 4 p e r c e n t a f t e r o n e y e a r i n c o ld
s t o r a g e a n d 33 p e r c e n t a f t e r o n e y e a r i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y .
A fte r
s e v e n y e a r s i t was 2 5 a n d 16 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y .
T h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te h a d 81 p e r ­
c e n t g e rm in a tio n p lu s 9 p e rc e n t h a rd s e e d a f t e r one y e a r i n c o ld
s t o r a g e , a n d 62 p e r c e n t p l u s 2 4 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a f t e r o n e y e a r i n
th e la b o ra to ry .
A f t e r s e v e n y e a r s t h e g e r m i n a t i o n was 36 a n d 34
p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y ; t h e h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t 4 a n d 20 p e r c e n t r e s p e c ­
tiv e ly .
T he f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n was 43 a n d 2 6 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y
a f t e r o n e y e a r o f s t o r a g e a n d 17 a n d 13 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y a f t e r
seven y e a rs =
F i g u r e s 13 a n d 14 show t h a t t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n s t o r i n g t h e
s e e d i n a i r - t i g h t h o t t l e s o r s a c k s d i d n o t f a v o r e i t h e r m eth o d co n ­
s is te n tly .
T h e i n i t i a l f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n o f s w e e t c l o v e r was i n e e a s e d m ore
-4 1
Legend
__ Sa ck s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e seed la b o r a to r y
Sa ck c o l d s t o r a g e
— A ir - t ig h t b o t t l e cold sto ra g e
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e c o l d s t o r a g e
1930
F i g u r e 14.
F i e l d g e m i n a t i o n o f s w e e t c l o v e r s e e d c o m p a r in g
d i f f e r e n t methods o f s t o r a g e . ( S e e p a g e 13)
-4 2 -'
t h a n 100 p e r c e n t "by s c a r i f y i n g .
A lth o u g h t h e s c a r i f i e d s e e d l o s t
v i t a l i t y m ore r a p i d l y t h e r e was s t i l l a s l i g h t a d v a n ta g e i n f a v o r o f
s c a r i f i c a t i o n a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s o fs to ra g e .
B e g in n in g i n 1927 s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r
m in u te g a v e a p p r o x i m a t e ly t h e sam e g e r m i n a t i o n a s t h e n o n - s c a r i f l e d
seed .
(F ig u re 1 1 ).
T he i n i t i a l f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n was 14 p e r c e n t f o r
t h e n o n - s c a r i f i e d s e e d , 34 p e r c e n t f o r t h a t s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u ­
t i o n s p e r m in u te a n d 45 p e r c e n t f o r t h a t s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u ­
t i o n s p e r m in u te .
I n 1927 a f t e r t h r e e y e a r s o f s t o r a g e t h e a v e r a g e
f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n f o r a l l m eth o d s o f s t o r a g e was 3 1 , 4 0 , a n d 28 p e r ­
cen t r e s p e c tiv e ly .
re s p e c tiv e ly .
A f t e r -sev en y e a r s i t was 1 6 , 1 7 , a n d 11 p e r c e n t
As w i t h a l f a l f a , t h e f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n o f t h e s e e d
s t o r e d i n a i r - t i g h t b o t t l e s i n t h e . l a b o r a t o r y w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e
d e c r e a s e d r a p i d l y b u t t h a t k e p t i n c o l d s t o r a g e f e l l o f f m ore s lo w ly .
(F ig u re 1 4 ).
T ak en a s a w h o le , t h e f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n o f t h e sw e e t
c l o v e r d e c r e a s e d g r a d u a l l y d u r in g t h e e n t i r e p e r i o d o f t h e e x p e r im e n t.
F o r t h e s e e d s t o r e d i n 1924 t h e t o t a l v i t a l i t y
o f th e s c a r if ie d
s e e d was s l i g h t l y lo w e r t h a n t h a t o f t h e n o n - s c a r i f i e d s e e d a f t e r
th e f i r s t y e a r in s to r a g e .
( T a b le X I ) .
T h i s lo w e re d v i t a l i t y due t o
s c a r i f y i n g becam e m ore p ro n o u n c e d a s t h e e x p e rim e n t p r o g r e s s e d .
S e e d s t o r e d w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e i n t h e " l a b o r a t o r y h a d t h e low ­
e s t t o t a l v i t a l i t y d u r i n g t h e e x p e rim e n t a lt h o u g h s e e d k e p t i n c o l d
s t o r a g e w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e was v e r y l i t t l e b e t t e r .
T h e r e was
n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n t h e o t h e r m eth o d s o f s t o r a g e , a n d
t a k e n a s a w h o le , t h e t o t a l v i t a l i t y o f t h e s w e e t c l o v e r s e e d d e c r e a s —
-4 3 -
Legend
Sack s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e seed l a b o r a to r y
Sack c o l d s t o r a g e
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e cold s to ra g e
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e c o l d s t o r a g e
>
CO
nd
0)
O
^ ____
CO
rCj
k
CO
^2
Ch
O
0)
t£
CO
+>
S
O
<D
P.
l \
V\
v
^
-
11*
Ti
L
X
-
—
\
X
""sC l
'N
O
1924
1925
F ig u re 15.
1926
1927
1928
1929
t - X\
1930
Hard s e e d c o n t e n t o f sweet c l o v e r c o m p a r in g d i f f e r e n t
m ethods o f s t o r a g e . (Sea p a g e 13)
1931
T alble XI
P e r c e n t t o t a l v i t a l i t y o f s c a r i f i e d a n d m m - s c a r i f i e d s w e e t c l o v e r se e d
s to r e d u nder d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
L ot S c a r i f i ­ S to ra g e
Ho. c a t i o n m eth o d
1924
1925
1926
1927
I
none
A
B
E
O
D
F
92
90
91
78
97
87
82
85
85
60
87
90
74
85
84
70
70
87
72
I
2040
B .P .M .
A
B
E
C
D
F
91
85
90
63
92
91
85
79
81
58
82
84
72
75
72
46
65
85
62
I
2885
BiiPiMo
A
B
E
G
D
F
91
85
87
49
87
92
88
60
51
19
77
. 75
66
. 59
56
14
50
si
57
1928
85"
84
64
77
' 89
77
, 1929
1930
1951
73
88
61
65
80
55
85
88
60
62
81
62
73
76
51
65
75
58
68
74
42
53
76
42
. 72
61
59
41
65
50
72
64
46
55
67
05
55
58
12
48
74
40
44
47
11
55
56
27
48
54
14
42
47
19
58
51
5
SI
49
17
.
81
80
57
61
71
43
L o t S c a r i f i - S to r a g e
Ho. c a t i on m ethod
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
2
none
A
B
C
D
73
76
78
77
73
71
66
65
78
67
68
75
74
68
69
70
69
64
57
65
52
2
2450
B .P J iL
A
B
C
D
81
72
75
79
80
60
78
76
79
58
58
70
68
45
53
58
56
46
41
58
45
3
none
A
B
C
D
78
64
89
86
80
67
58
81
76
70
68
70
70
73
82
62
65
61
54
69
64
3
2450
E .P .M .
A
B
C
D
75
74
71
90
72
78
61
79
80
60
65
68
62
64
47
58
60
55
36
48
46
4
none
A
B
C
B
89
83
85
88
87
79
85
80
81
88
80
83
82
77
86
82
81
66
79
68
74
4
2450
R-oP.M.
A
B
C
D
86
62
75
88
82
75
75
82
76
64
58
72
74
56
51
64
63
42
51
58
52
.
'
S'9P-
T a b le X I l
P e rc e n t t o t a l v i t a l i t y o f s c a r i f i e d an d n o n - s c a r i f l e d sw eet
c lo v e r s e e d s t o r e d u n d e r d i f f e r e n t c o n d i t i o n s
-4 6 e d g r a d u a l l y d u r in g t h e l e n g t h . o f t h e e x p e r im e n t.
T he t h r e e s a m p le s o f s w e e t c l o v e r a d d e d t o t h i s e x p e r im e n t i n
1926 h a v e shown t h e sam e r e s u l t s a s h a v e "been d e s c r i b e d f o r t h e s e e d
s to r e d in 1924.
ed b y s c a r i f y i n g .
B o th l a b o r a t o r y a n d f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n s w e re i n c r e a s ­
( T a b le s T i l l a n d X H
The h a rd se ed c o n te n t d e c re a s
e'd s lo w ly ( F i g u r e ,1 2 ) a n d t h e l o s s i n t o t a l v i t a l i t y was g r a d u a l ^
( T a b le X I I ) .
The s e e d k e p t i n c o l d s t o r a g e g a v e ■h i g h e r g e r m i n a t io n
t h a n s e e d s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y ( F i g u r e 13) b u t t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n
t o t a l v i t a l i t y was n o t s o p r o n o u n c e d . ( T a b le X I I ) .
B o th l a b o r a t o r y
a n d f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n s w e re i n c r e a s e d b y o n e y e a r i n c o l d s t o r a g e .
E x p e r im e n ts W ith R ed C lo v e r S e e d
.
.
T he i n i t i a l l a b o r a t o r y g e r m i n a t i o n o f r e d c l o v e r s e e d was i n ­
c r e a s e d b y s c a r i f i c a t i o n . , ( T a b le X I I I ) .
T he f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n o f ,
t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te show ed a s l i g h t
a d v a n ta g e i n f a v o r o f s c a r i f y i n g f o r t h e f i r s t tw o y e a r s , b u t a f t e r
t h a t t im e i t was a b o u t t h e same a s t h a t o f t h e n o n - s c a r i f i e d s e e d .
(F ig u re 1 7 ).
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n was lo w e re d b y
s c a r i f i c a t i o n a t 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u t e .
The la b o r a to r y g e rm in a tio n o f th e n o n - s c a r if ie d se e d a t th e b e ­
g i n n i n g o f s t o r a g e was 41 p e r c e n t , f o r t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0
r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te 60 p e r c e n t , a n d f o r t h a t s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,8 8 5
r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te , 75 p e r c e n t .
T he i n i t i a l h a rd s e e d c o n te n t
was 5 8 , 3 9 , a n d 23 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y .
( T a b le X I I I ) .
In 1926,
a f t e r tw o y e a r s o f s t o r a g e , t h e a v e r a g e g e r m i n a t io n w as 6 9 , 7 3 , a n d
70 p e r c e n t ; t h e h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t 2 6 , 1 3 , and. 5 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y .
T a b le .X III
L a b o r a t o r y g e r m i n a t io n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d " n o n - s c a r i f i e & r e d c l o v e r s e e d
s to r e d u nder d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
CO
to,
I
S S3
"sk
1924
L ot S c a r i f i - S to ra g e
N o. c a t ! o n m ethod
I
I
none
2040
A
B .
EG
D
F'
A
B
41
•
60
58
39
a
e
B
F
I
2885
B.P.M .
= A
B
E
C
D F
-I
S
S3
m
1925
55
56
55
83
79
83
73
72
78
23
17
20
16
27
86
80
24
13
9
13
15
72
79
70
87
82
86
17
15 "
9
4
10
I
88
75
'44
42
42
*•
I
CS
'Bt
S3
1926
55
57
50
86
84
S3
1927
S
tb
35
12
15
14
59
31
15
18
16
■69 21
68 .2 0
• 58 12
92
3
88
9
86 11
53
. 66
41
85
84
86
21
18
8
5
11
10
69
35
45
24
76
12
7
2
I
42
39
14
77
6k
68
47
84
'8 0
81
‘9
8
3
3
6 .
2
79
76
44
4 .
2
to
S3
1928.
50
' 88
30
84
79
82
82
45
40
I
■ S
CO
55
53
37
88
81
88
64
59
32
86
88
81
80
57
42
to
ti?
S3
1929
45
54
23
80
86
I
O
«■
CO
I
CS
CO
57
33
58
58
25
8
8
9
22
79
91
88
28
24
25
5
6
7
4
S3
1950
S3
% WL
1931
29
10
14
8
86
44
38
28
12
12
10
19
22
10
4
6
5
45
62
22
89
90
86
20
15
11
2
5
4
48
24
65
84
87
13
16
6
5
5
4
46
62
28
61
87
82
16
11
7
I
2
I
11
10
I
I .
3
2
32
8
38 10
9
I
73
2
86
I
80 . I
30
36
3
51
74
73
6
5
4
I
I
I
59
25
5
47
75
59
6
10
I
0
2
0
50
58
21
77
87
86
52
-4 8 -
Legend
Non-scarifie d
S c a r i f i e d id040 R.P.M
S c a r i f i e d 2885 R.P.M
1924
1925
F i g u r e 16 .
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
L a b o r a t o r y g e m i n a t i o n o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r i f i e d
red clover seed.
1931
-4 9 -
Legend
R on-scarified
S c a r i f i e d 2885 R.P.M
1925
F i g u r e 17 .
F i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r i f i e d r e d
c lo v e r seed.
-E O -
P i g u r e 18.
Hard s e e d c o n t e n t o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r i f i e d r e d
clover seed.
Table $iy
L a b o r a t o r y g e r m i n a t io n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n a g e a r I f i e d r e d c l o v e r s e e d
s to r e d u n d er d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
1928
L o t S c a r i f i - . S t o r a g e Germs H.,S.
HO, c a t i o n m eth o d . P e r c e n t
2
none
A
B
G
56
25
D
2
2450
B ,P .IL
A
B
75
5
C
. D
3
none
A
B
G
58 ■ 28
D
3'
4
2450
RoPoM.
none
A
B'
G
B
46
A
B
70
10
24
O
B
4
2450
R=PoM.
A
B
O
B
73
9
1927
Germ. HsS s
P e rce n t
56
56
62
58
16
17
9
12
65
55
48
52
2
2
4
4
50
57
57
• 53
14
21
14
21
46
46
42
46
1928
Germs HsS s
P e rce n t
65
61
64
63
15
11
9
13.
. 53
48 '
67
17
23
7
60
S
5
2
O
53
37
53
3
56
64
53
71
70
16
16
13
21
50
'5 7
9
12
8
6
52
41
48
60
5
4
I
7
70
77
74
77
22
19
25
17
73
73
18
20
79
82
16
14
86
75
78
79
2
3
0
7
75
83
5
2
I
5
50
59
71 .
71
90
85
1930
1929
Germ. H .S s
P e rce n t
66
62
BO
Germs HsS s
P ercen t
59
44
66
62
20
18
7
11
37
38
66
60
12
14
7
5
4
4
2
2
28
25
41
46
6
3
I
I
20
20
43
42
2
3
0
28
10
40
41
15
U
56
17
19
15
10
46
53
54
61
19
12
8
5
5
5
5
5
18
20
24
46
5
I
13
16
17
12
64
58
86
81
17
17
8
10
I
I
32
56
72
65
2
2
I
-
66
5
6
5
6
15
17
31
65
79
25
20
15
16
50
54
81
72
4
3
4
4-
39
35
77
74
53
49
39
69
66
82
1931
Germ. H.S
P ercen t
37
66
77
78
0
2
I
O
3
I
T a b le ST
S1I e l d g e m i n a t i o n o f s c a r i f i e d an d n o n - s c a r i f i e d r e d c l o v e r
se e d s to r e d u n d er d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
L o t S c a r i f i - S t o r a g e 1934
1925 1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
Ho o' c a t i o n m eth o d GermY^ Germ
Germ="$C G errn.^ Germ 0^ Gerrna'^ G erm J^ G e rm ^
no n e
2040
B -P .H ,
2885
R0P aM0
Jk
B
S
C
D
F
61
A
B,
B
Q
B
F
61
A
B
B
G
3)
F
40
34
42
33
53
51
59
50
47
40
56
43
62
39
Sg
40
60
54
47
29
31
47
28
45
59
21
12
25
49
53
.56
64
77
4-9
76
70
47
41
23
56
46
31
50
52
25
66
. 73
81
46
17
60
59
56
21
30
15
24
24
21
29
72
30
15
66
63
59
38
22
16
12
Sg
49
35
54
58
• 19
75
88
41
'
50
53
20
63
82
79
53
25
5
44
65
70
10
8
6
7
28
42 .
34
43
7
48
59
56
12
29
3
10
33
53
26
31
3
• 13
50
27
11
• 12
2
15
16
5
0
9
19
19
87
25
T a b le XVI
F ie ld , g e r m i n a t i o n o f s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n - a c a r i f i e d r e d c l o v e r
se e d s to r e d under d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
1927
1928
1929
1930
L o t S c a r i f i - ' S t o r a g e 1926
■1931
Ho, c a t i o n m ethod Q erm ,^ Germ9% Gertoefs GerEufb Germoffr G erm 9^
3
2
3
3
4
4
no n e
8450
B=PeMe
none
3450
B=P=M=
none
2450
ReP=Me
A
B
C
P
28
1
.
A
B
C
D
23
A
B
C
B
Si
A
■B
0
P
29
A
B
0
P
38
A
B
0
D
34
41
35
51
49
21
21
39
26
33
■33
57
46
29
36
34
38
21
15
17
11
7
: 28
9
15
24
21
28
20
16
22
33
. 46
15
11
10
21
4
5
11
10
32
38
46
53
29
24
31
23
41
31
53
53
14
15
SI
10
11
34
16
24
04
26
23
20
14
12
15
10
4
S
8
12
7
3
7
9
59
66
52
66
06
26
SI
37
60
57
82
66
27
35
23
22
21
33
38
37
40
42
62
52
20
31
30
22
32
23
66
67
9
4
13
15
6
4
34
27
21
34
33
38
*-54t
( F i g u r e 15)»
A f t e r s e v e n y e a r s o f s t o r a g e t h e g e m i n a t i o n was 56«,
6 1 , a n d 41 p e r c e n t 5 t h e h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t 1 6 , 6 «, a n d 3 p e r c e n t r e ­
s p e c tiv e ly T h e i n i t i a l f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n was 51 p e r c e n t f o r t h e n o n s c a r i f i e d s e e d , 61 p e r c e n t f o r t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 8 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u ­
t i o n s p e r m in u te a n d 40 p e r c e n t f o r t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,8 8 5
r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te - ( T a b le XV)?
I n 1 9 2 6 , a f t e r tw o y e a r s o f
s t o r a g e , t h e f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n was 4 7 , 4 7 , a n d 21 p e r c e n t r e s p e c ­
t i v e l y a n d a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , 4 1 , 2 5 , a n d 11 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y *
( F i g u r e 17}»
H ed c l o v e r s e e d s t o r e d i n a i r - t i g h t b o t t l e s i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y
w i t h 1 2 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e l o s t v i t a l i t y m o re r a p i d l y t h a n t h e s e e d
s t o r e d i n an y o t h e r m a n n e r, "but t h i s l o s s o f v i t a l i t y was n o t so
r a p id a s w ith sw eet c lo v e r an d a lf a lf a =
I n 1 9 2 6 , a f t e r tw o y e a r s o f
s to r a g e i n th e l a b o r a to r y , th e g e rm in a tio n o f th e n o n - s o a r if ie d se ed
was 50 p e r c e n t p l u s 55 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a s a g a i n s t a n i n i t i a l g e r m iI-
n a t i o n o f 41 p e r c e n t p l u s 57 p e r c e n t h a r d seed= ( T a b le X I I I ) =
s e v e n y e a r s , i t w as 22 p e r c e n t p l u s 25 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d .
A fte r
In 1924,
t h e f i e l d g e r m i n a t io n w as 51 p e r c e n t , a f t e r two y e a r s , 21 p e r c e n t ,
a n d a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , 7 p e r c e n t . ( T a b le XV).
'
J?or t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u t e , t h e
i n i t i a l g e r m i n a t i o n was 60 p e r c e n t p l u s 39 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d , a f t e r
tw o y e a r s o f s t o r a g e i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y " w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e , 58
p e r c e n t p l u s 12 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d , a n d a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s 28 p e r c e n t
p l u s 7 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d . (T a b le . X I I I ) =
B e fo re s to r a g e , th e f i e l d
urcentage o f germ ination
-5 5 -
1924
Legend
_ Sack s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
^
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e seed l a b o r a to r y
X
Sack c o l d s t o r a g e
• A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e cold sto ra g e
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
- 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e c o l d s t o r a g e
1927
1925
1926
F i g u r e 19.
1930
L a b o r a t o r y g e r m i n a t i o n o f r e d c l o v e r s e e d co m p a rin g
d i f f e r e n t methods o f s t o r a g e . (S e e p a r e 13)
—56—
Legt3nd
Sack seed l a b o r a to r y
a i r - t i g h t b o t t l e seed l a b o r a t o r y
Sack c o l d s t o r a g e
A i r - t ig h t b o t tl e cold storage
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e c o l d
1924
F ig u re 20.
1928
f i e l d g e rm in a tio n o f re d c l o v e r seed comparing d i f f e r e n t
m ethods o f s t o r a g e . (S ee p a g e 13)
-6 7 g e m i n a t i o n -was 61 p e r c e n t , a f t e r tw o y e a r s * 23 p e r c e n t* an S a f t e r
seven y e a rs , 3 p e rc e n t,
( f a t l e X T ].
W ith t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2*885 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te * t h e
i n i t i a l g e r m i n a t io n was 75 p e r c e n t p l u s 23 p e r c e n t h a r d se e d .,
A fte r
tw o y e a r s o f s t o r a g e i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o is tu re * 47
p e r c e n t p l u s 3 p e r c e n t ' h a r d seed * a n d a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , 3 p e r c e n t
.p l u s I p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d , ( T a b le X I I I K
B e f o r e s to r a g e * t h e f i e l d ■
g e r m i n a t io n was 40 p e r c e n t , a f t e r tw o y e a r s * 15 p e r c e n t , a n d a f t e r
s e v e n y e a r s . O', p e r c e n t , ( T a b le X T ),
The se e d k e p t i n c o ld s to r a g e
w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e d i d n o t l o s e v i t a l i t y a n y m ore r a p i d l y t h a n
d r y s e e d , ( F i g u r e s .19 a n d 2 0 ] .
T h e s t o r a g e o f r e d c l o v e r s e e d a t low te m p e r a t u r e s i n c r e a s e d t h e
l a b o r a t o r y a n d f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n a n d lo w e re d t h e h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t .
F i g u r e s 1 9 , 2 0 , a n d 21 show t h a t t h e . e f f e c t o f c o l d s t o r a g e becam e
a p p a r e n t- a f t e r t h e f i r s t y e a r o f s t o r a g e a n d c o n ti n u e d th r o u g h o u t t h e
e x p e r i m e n t .° E x c lu d in g t h e s e e d s t o r e d w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e , t h e
a v e r a g e g e r m i n a t io n o f t h e n o n - s c a r i f i e d s e e d k e p t i n c o l d s t o r a g e
f o r o n e y e a r was 81 p e r c e n t p l u s 18 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a n d f o r t h a t
s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y , 56 p e r c e n t p l u s 43 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d .
A f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , i t was 86 p e r c e n t p l u s 5 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a n d 58
p e r c e n t p l u s 26 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d r e s p e c t i v e l y .
T he f i e l d g e rm in a ­
t i o n a f t e r one y e a r I n c o l d s t o r a g e w as 52 p e r c e n t* a n d a f t e r one.
y e a r i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y , 38 p e r c e n t .
In 1931, a f t e r sev en y e a rs , i t
was 53 a n d 38 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y .
I n 1 9 2 5 , a f t e r one y e a r i n .c o ld s t o r a g e , t h e a v e r a g e g e r m i n a t io n
-5 8 -
P i jr c u n ta g u o f h a r d souda
Legend
Sack s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e seed l a b o r a t o r y
Sack c o l d s t o r a g e
A i r - t i g h t b o t t l e cold sto rag e
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e s e e d l a b o r a t o r y
12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e c o l d s t o r a ge
1924
F ig u re 21.
1927
Hard s e e d c o n t e n t o f r e d c l o v e r compa ring d i f f e r e n t
methods o f s t o r a g e . (S ee p a g e 13)
1931
T a b le XYII
P e r c e n t t o t a l v i t a l i t y o f s c a r i f i e d and n o n - s c a r i f i e d r e d c lo v e r se ed
s to r e d under d if f e r e n t c o n d itio n s ■
?
L ot S c a r i f i - S to ra g e
c a t i o n m eth o d
I
none
A
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
99
99
98
97
100
99
99
96
97
83
98
97
96
94
97
61
97
97
98
92
.95
66
98
■95
96
99
92
51
92
98
96
87
91
46
85
96
95
86
82
47
84
97
95
99
lo o
90
89
80
.95
97
9.7
74
84
49
90
95.
96
83
81
42
90
94
94
65
77
65
64
SO
70
62
47
53
' 49
15
B
E
C
D
F
I
2040
B.PoMo
A
B
E
96
91
97
99
95
C
D
F
I
2865
B.P.Mo
A
B
E
C
D
F
98
89
94
79
91
92
87
'
.
72
76
50
87
86
26
83
78
52
77
78
83
84
82
33
73
35
62
91
95
90
91
89
83
40
48
10
75
87
81
36
41
7
52
75
74
45
35
4
47
75
59
89
T a b le m i l
P e rc e n t t o t a l v i t a l i t y o f s c a r if ie d and n o n -s c a rifie d red
c lo v e r se e d s to r e d u nder d i f f e r e n t c o n d itio n s
L ot S c a r i f i - S to ra g e
S o . c a t i on m ethod
2
none
'
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
72
73
71
70
80
72
73
76
70
71
74
69
59
62
73
73
49
52
73
65
A
B
C
3)
BI
A •
B
O
D
86
67
57
52
56
55
61
71
74
37
41
55
58
34
28
42
47
22
23
43
43
'
2
2450
E oP3M.
3
none
A
B
C
B
86
64
78
71
74
80
69
84
91 '
84
60
70
73
57
60
79
66
65
45
62.
66
3
2450
B oPolo
A
B
C
D
56
55
58
50
52
57
45
49
67.
33
39
52
45
20
22
36
40
23
21
24
49
4
no n e
■ A
B
G
B
94
92
96
97
94
91
93
95
.9 6
94
86
97
95
76
82
94
90
81
75
94
91
4
2450.
BoP.M.
A
B
G
B
82
88
78
81
86
78
85
94
90
54
57
85
76
40
36
77
76
34
38
73
66
—S l­
o t t h e s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,0 4 0 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te was 87 p e r c e n t p l u s
11 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a n d f o r the- s e e d s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y . .75 p e r ­
c e n t p lu s 24 p e rc e n t h a rd s e e d .
A f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , i t w as 74 p e r c e n t
p l u s I p e r c e n t h a r d -seed a n d 54 p e r c e n t p l u s I S p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d r e s p e c ­
tiv e ly .
T h e f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n w a s '5 0 a n d 48 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y a f t e r
o n e y e a r i n s t o r a g e , a n d a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , 31 a n d - 2 8 p e r c e n t .
.
T he s e e d s c a r i f i e d a t 2 ,8 8 5 r e v o l u t i o n s p e r m in u te h a d 8'5 p e r ­
c e n t g e r m i n a t i o n p l u s 7 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a f t e r one y e a r i n c o l d
s t o r a g e a n d 76 p e r c e n t p l u s 1 8 p e r c e n t h a r d s e e d a f t e r o n e y e a r , i n
th e la b o ra to ry .
A f t e r s e v e n y e a r s , t h e g e r m i n a t i o n w as. 8 0 a n d 32.
p e rc e n t r e s p e c tiv e ly , and th e h a rd seed c o n te n t, 8 and 4 p e rc e n t r e s p e e tiv e ly .
T h e f i e l d g e r m i n a t i o n was 57 a n d 56 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y
a f t e r o n e y e a r i n s t o r a g e , a n d 4 a n d 10 p e r c e n t a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s .
■ F rom t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f t o t a l v i t a l i t y , t h e r e was n o a d v a n ta g e i n
k e e p in g t h e n o n -o c a r ifie d s e e d s t o r e d , i n 1924 i n c o l d s t o r a g e . - How­
e v e r ,' t h e n o n —s c a r i f i e d s e e d s t o r e d i n 1926 show ed a d e c id e d a d v a n ta g e
i n f a v o r o f c o l d s t o r a g e a f t e r f o u r y e a r s i n s t o r a g e .. ( T a b le s X V ll
a n d X V I I I )«
S c a r i f i e d s e e d h a d h i g h e r t o t a l v i t a l i t y a f t e r tw o y e a r s
i n c o l d s t o r a g e t h a n a f t e r tw o y e a r s , i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y .
T h e r e was no
c o n s i s t e n t d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n s e e d s t o r e d i n a i r - t i g h t . b o t t l e s a n d
th a t s to re d i n sa c k s.
T he t h r e e s a m p le s o f s e e d a d d e d t o t h i s e x p e rim e n t i n 1928 g a v e
r e s u l t s s i m i l a r t o t h o s e d e s c r i b e d f o r t h e s e e d s t o r e d i n , 1 9 2 4 , ex ­
c e p t t h a t t h e i n i t i a l f i e l d g e m i n a t i o n w as n o t i n c r e a s e d b y s c a r i ­
fic a tio n .
( T a b le X V I).
I n c o m p a ris o n w i t h t h e s e e d s t o r e d i n t h e
l a b o r a t o r y b o t h s c a r i f i e d a n d n o n - s c a r I f l e d s e e d were b e n e f i t e d b y
•
-6 2 -'
s t o r a g e a t low t e m p e r a t u r e s „
T h e r e was no a d v a n ta g e i n s t o r i n g t h e
se ed i n a i r - t i g h t b o t t l e s e it h e r in th e la b o r a to r y o r i n c o ld s to r a g e .
SUmaBY AED OOHCEOSIOMS
Xt i s b e l i e v e d t h e e x p e r im e n ts a n d o b s e r v a t i o n s r e p o r t e d i n
t h i s p a p e r j u s t i f y t h e f o llo w in g c o n c lu s io n s j
T he t o t a l v i t a l i t y o f n o n - s c a r if ie d s e e d o f sw eet c lo v e r an d
r e d c l o v e r w i l l d e c r e a s e s lo w ly d u r i n g t h e f i r s t s e v e n y e a r s o f
s to ra g e .
!T o n -s c a rifie d a l f a l f a
se ed o f good m a tu rity and h ig h h a rd
se e d c o n te n t w i l l lo s e v i t a l i t y g r a d u a lly .
A l f a l f a s e e d l e s s m a tu r e
o r o f low h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t may show a r a p i d d e c l i n e i n v i t a l i t y d u r ­
i n g t h e f i r s t tw o y e a r s o f s t o r a g e , b u t w i l l f a l l o f f g r a d u a l l y t h e r e ­
a fte r.
S c a rif ie d seed o f a l f a l f a w ill lo s e t o t a l v i t a l i t y r a p id ly d u r­
i n g t h e f i r s t tw o o r t h r e e y e a r s o f s t o r a g e , b u t s c a r i f i e d s e e d o f
s w e e t c l o v e r a n d r e d c l o v e r l o s e v i t a l i t y g r a d u a l l y when i n s t o r a g e .
S c a r if ie d se e d o f th e s e th r e e c ro p s w i l l n o t r e t a i n i t s v i t a l i t y a s
w e ll a s n o n - s c a r if ie d s e e d .
The h a r d s e e d c o n t e n t o f a l f a l f a d e c r e a s e s r a p i d l y d u r i n g t h e
f i r s t y e a r o f s t o r a g e a n d g r a d u a l l y d u r in g t h e f o ll o w i n g y e a r s .
W ith s w e e t c l o v e r a n d r e d c l o v e r , t h e h a r d , s e e d c o n t e n t o f t h e s e e d
i n c o ld s t o r a g e f a l l s o f f r a p i d l y d u r i n g t h e f i r s t o r s e c o n d y e a r i n
s t o r a g e , b u t t h e s e e d s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y d e c r e a s e s s lo w ly i n
h a rd se e d c o n te n t d u rin g s to r a g e .
S e e d s t o r e d w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o is t u r e l o s e s v i t a l i t y m o re r a p i d l y
—65—
i n s t o r a g e t h a n ' d r y se e d ..
C o ld s t o r a g e I s b e t t e r t h a n s t o r a g e i n t h e
l a b o r a t o r y f o r s e e d w i t h 12 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e .
T h e r e i s no a d v a n ta g e i n k e e p in g n o n - s c a r i f i e d a l f a l f a s e e d i n
c o ld s to r a g e .
J i t h s c a r i f i e d s e e d , h o w e v e r, b o t h g e r m i n a t i o n and
t o t a l v i t a l i t y a r e m a i n ta i n e d b e t t e r i n c o l d s t o r a g e t h a n i n t h e l a b o ­
ra to ry .
T he g e r m i n a t i o n o f r e d c l o v e r a n d s w e e t c l o v e r i s h i g h e r f o r
se e d k e p t in c o ld s to r a g e th a n f o r se e d s to r e d i n th e la b o r a to r y .
T he t o t a l v i t a l i t y
o f s w e e t c l o v e r d o e s n o t seem t o b e g r e a t l y a f ­
f e c t e d by th e . m eth o d o f s t o r a g e .
T h e t o t a l v i t a l i t y .o f red . c l o v e r
s e e d w i l l b e m a i n ta i n e d b e t t e r i n c o l d s t o r a g e t h a n i n t h e l a b o r a ­
t o r y b u t t h e a d v a n ta g e o f low t e m p e r a t u r e s w i l l n o t b e a p p a r e n t u n ­
t i l a f t e r t h e s e e d h a s h e e n i n s t o r a g e fro m tw o t o f o u r y e a r s .
rS h e r e c o ld s t o r a g e i s a d v a n ta g e o u s a s a m eans o f m a i n t a i n i n g
v i t a l i t y o r in c r e a s in g t h e g e rm in a tio n , s to r a g e i n a i r - t i g h t b o t t l e s
i s m o st e f f i c i e n t ,
i/h en s e e d i s s t o r e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y , t h e r e i s
n o d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n s t o r a g e i n a i r - t i g h t b o t t l e s o r i n ; s a c k s .,
aC KOThED GhlSMTS
T h e a u t h o r w is h e s t o a c k n o w le d g e t h e a s s i s t a n c e r e n d e r e d b y
P r o f e s s o r C ly d e Mc Kee , H ead o f t h e Agronom y D e p a r tm e n t, M o n tana.
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