EFFECT OF SEED MOISTURE CONTENT AT SWATHING ON EMERGENCE OF FALL RYE
Keyword(s):
The after-ripening requirement of three fall rye (Secale cereale L.) cultivars, harvested at three seed moisture contents (50, 42, and 32%), was assessed by monitoring the changes in seedling emergence from sowings made over a period of 60 days. All cultivars exhibited a short after-ripening requirement of 1–7 days. The absolute duration of the after-ripening requirement was not affected by the range of seed moisture contents studied. Seed treatment with captan [N[(trichloromethyl) thiol]-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboximide] significantly increased percent seedling emergence. The captan treatment had the greatest effect on seeds harvested at the lowest moisture content.