Effect of pre-chilling on germination traits of different soybean cultivars

In order to study the effect of pre-chilling period on seed germination characteristics of soybean cultivars, a factorial experiment was carried out based on CRD (completely randomized design) with five levels of pre-chilling (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 days) and cultivars including Clean, Linford and Jk with three replications at the Seed Science and Technology Laboratory of the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in 2013. Results showed that interaction effects of treatments were significant on all morphological traits of germination in soybean except plumule dry weight. The greatest plumule length (20-22 cm) belonged to the Clean cultivar with 30 days pre-chilling. Germination percentage and rate increased by increasing pre-chilling period and the greatest germination percentage (100%) was related to 40 days pre-chilling in Liford cultivar. The maximum dry weight of radicle (0.205 g) was obtained with Linford cultivar and 40 days pre-chilling. Increasing the pre-chilling period increased the seed reservoir using rate and the greatest amount of seed reservoir using rate (2.082 g) was observed with 40 days pre-chilling in Clean cultivar. Germination percentage showed positive correlation at%1 possibility with germination rate, plumule length, radicle length and reservoir using rate.