The Effects of Production Region and Seed Weight on Some Characteristics Related with Germinability and Seedling Vigour of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L)

To study the effect of production region and seed weight on some characteristics related with germinability and seedling vigour of peanut seeds, a research was performed in three peanut fields in Astaneh Ashrafieh and agronomy laboratory of Rasht branch Islamic Azad University during 2010 to 2012. This research was carried out using the standard germination test, cold and accelerated aging. For all tests a factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design in 3 replications was used. First factor was seed production region in 3 levels (Noghredeh, Amshal and Bandar-Kiyashahr) and second factor was seed weight in 3 levels [heavy (seeds heavier than 1 g), medium (seeds between 0.8 and 0.1 g) and light (seeds lighter than 0.8 g)]. The studied characteristics were including: final germination percentage, seedling vigour, radicle dry weight, hypocotyl dry weight, plumule dry weight, cotyledons dry weight and seedling dry weight. Results indicated that effect of region on the final germination percentage, seedling vigour and radicle dry weight were significant in all tests. Peanut seed weights also had a significant effect on radicle dry weight, hypocotyl dry weight, plumule dry weight, cotyledons dry weight and seedling dry weight in all tests.  Interaction of the region and seed weight on the seedling vigour of peanut seeds was significant in all tests. In accelerated ageing test, this interaction was significant on all the studied characteristics except for cotyledons dry weight. Mean comparison of studied characteristics also indicated that the greatest amount of studied parameters was observed from heavier seeds of Amshal region. The maximum germination percentage was detected in seeds produced in Amshal region with average of 86.67%. Also, maximum seedling vigour was achieved in heavy seeds produced in Amshal region with an average 54.24 (standard germination).