Relationship of seed germination and vigour indices of commercial soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars with seedling emergence in field

In order to evaluation of some seed germination and vigour indices of soybean commercial cultivars to seedling field emergence a laboratory and field experiment was conducted in seed and plant certification and registration institute at Karaj. Experiment conducted as factorial based on complete randomize design with12 treatments, 3 primary germinability, standard(80 percent), over standard(upper most germinability of each cultivar sample) and under standard(lowest germinability of each cultivar sample) of 4 soybean commercial cultivars, Williams and Sari(JK) procuced in Mazandaran province and Telar and 033 produced in Golestan province by 4 replication. Seedling length, seedling dry mater, normal seedling percent, abnormal seedling percent, final germination percent, mean germination time, coefficient of velocity of germination, mean daily germination, mean daily germination rate, seed length and weight vigour indices measured by standard germination test and seedling growth analysis test conduction. Also seeds planted in field and primary and final seedling emergence percent, seedling emergence rate and seedling cumulative emergence rate and seedling vigour index and seedling dry weight in field determined. Results revealed that seedling length and dry weight, coefficient of velocity of germination and seed length and weight indices and primary and final seedling emergence percent and seedling vigour index in field affected by cultivar × primary germinability interaction and other studied indices affected by any of factors. Also seedling length and dry weight, normal seedling percent, daily germination rate and seed length vigour index increasing in high germinability seeds observed and these seeds had high and primary and final seedling emergence percent and seedling emergence rate at field and strong vigour seedlings. Generally Williams and 033 cultivars with over standard primary germinability seeds for almost laboratory and field indices significantly higher than in comparison of other cultivars. In standard germination test normal seedling percent in comparison of final germination percent had high correlation with final seedling emergence in field. Thereafter, seem normal seedling percent determination could suitable criterion of potential vigour of seeds for seedlings establishment in field.