Dehiscence method: a seed-saving, quick and simple viability assessment in rice

Table 5 Proposed program for practical use of dehiscence method

Stage 1 D = 5–10% Early D quality checking	Stage 2 48-h germination Early viability judging		Stage 3 7-d germination Final germination judging
AD ≥ 50%, go to stage 3	–		Standard germination tests to calculate final germination percentage
AD < 50%	D(48) ≥ 85%	Safe storage
AD < 50%	D(48) < 85%	Judge in Stage 3
Excluding rotten and PHG seeds from D counts and dehydration respectively	Dehydrating D(60)		Dehydrating D(> 60) according to the preciousness of the accession

The dehiscence percentage D, which is also a set of the dehiscent seeds, labelled with the duration of germination in hour. D(60) was the dehiscence percentage at 60 h and was the set of seeds dehiscent before 60 h among the whole sample. AD: abnormal dehiscence. In our program, the seed viability is more likely to be underestimate, since GP in high viability accessions is usually 5% higher than D(48). However, as more embryos protrude, an accession which meets the promised germination percentage (> 85%) can be foresaw. For lower viability accessions whose D(48) is too low to predict germination, this program is essentially a question of sacrificing time for precision and is still perspective both for precision and seed-saving

ISSN: 1746-4811