Effect of seed moisture content and storage duration on three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars germination and early seedling growth in Mazandaran province

This research conducted in order to study on effect of seed moisture content and storage duration on some germination and vigor traits of 3 wheat cultivars at Mazandaran province as split split plot based on complete randomized design by 4 replications. Treatment were Morvarid, Milan and N8019 cultivars seeds which by 10, 12, 14 and 16 percent seed moisture content harvested and for 2, 3 and 4 month after harvest stored. By standard germination test, final germination and normal seedlings percent, mean germination time, seedling length and dry weight and seedling length and weight vigor indices (respectively seedling dry weight and length multiplication in final germination percent) determined and electro conductivity measured. Results revealed that, harvested seeds at 10 percent moisture content stored for 2 month, Milan and N8019 cultivars seeds stored for 4 month and Milan cultivar seeds harvested at 12 percent moisture content had the most final germination percent, 98 percent. Morvarid and Milan cultivars seeds harvested at 10 percent moisture content and stored 2 month and N8019 cultivar seeds harvested at 12 percent moisture content and stored 2 month had the most normal seedlings percent, 98 percent. The lowest mean germination time, 1.210 day, belonged to Milan cultivar seeds harvested at 10 percent moisture content and 2 month stored. Based on this research results, optimum seed moisture content at harvest for Morvarid cultivar was 10 percent and for Milan and N8019 were 12 percent and suitable seed storage duration was 3 months for Morvarid cultivar and for Milan and N8019 were 2 months.