Effects of Specific Gravity on Germination and Emergence of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica Beauvois)

The establishment rate of foxtail millet seeds is greatly affected by soil environment conditions. To enhance germination viability and stable production of foxtail millet seeds, it is important to select seeds with a high density. Therefore, this study tested the selection of high-quality seeds using salt solution (specific gravity: 1.000, 1.005, 1.010, 1.015, 1.020, 1.025, 1.030, 1.035, and $1.040g\;L^{-1}$) and investigated their germination rates, percentages of emergence, and seeding quality. In this study, three varieties were tested: 'Hwanggeum', 'Samdachal', and 'Kyeongkwan1'. The thousand seed weight of all three varieties increased proportionally with specific gravity. The highest thousand seed weight was observed at the selection with $1.040g\;L^{-1}$ specific gravity, which also had the highest germination rate of 88.3%, 86.7%, and 90.6%, for 'Hwanggeum'; 'Samdachal'; and 'Kyeongkwan1', respectively. The results of seeding quality indicated that higher the specific gravity during selection, the higher were the values of plant growth (plant height, leaf length, stem diameter, root length, root weight, and stem weight). All the three varieties were found to be longer or heavier for seeds selected at the specific gravity of $1.040g\;L^{-1}$. The packing germination viability investigation found that higher the specific gravity for selection of seeds, the higher was the percentage of emergence (PE) and the emergence rate index (ERI). The PE was the highest for seeds selected at $1.040g\;L^{-1}$ specific gravity (85.3, 83.0, and 87.0%), and ERI was also as high as $2.82d^{-1}\;m^{-1}$ or more at $1.040g\;L^{-1}$. Selection of seeds with salt solution resulted in high germination viability of foxtail millet. Therefore, sowing seeds selected at $1.040g\;L^{-1}$ specific gravity is expected to help substantially in increased productivity.

염수선 종자 정선법에 따른 조의 발아 및 출현율

본 연구는 토양환경 조건에 따른 입모율 변화가 높은 조종자의 발아활력 증진과 안정적인 생산을 위하여 염수선(비중) 종자정선을 활용한 우량종자 선발을 통한 발아율, 출현율 및 유모의 소질을 알아보고자 수행하였다. 1. 비중이 높아질수록 3품종 모두 천립중이 증가하는 경향이 나타났으며, 비중 $1.040g\;L^{-1}$에서는 가장 무거운 천립중을 조사되었으며, 발아율에서도 비중선 $1.040g\;L^{-1}$에서 '황금' 88.3%, '삼다찰' 86.7%, '경관1호' 90.6%로 가장 높은 발아율을 보였다. 2. 모 소질을 조사한 결과 비중선이 높을수록 모의 초장, 엽장, 경직경, 근장, 근중 및 경중 등이 증가하였으며, 비중선 $1.040g\;L^{-1}$에서 3품종 모두에서 길거나 무거운 것으로 보였다. 3. 염수선에 의해서 포장 발아활력 검정에서는 출아율 및 출아율지수에서 비중선이 높은 종자일수록 높아졌으며, 비중선 $1.040g\;L^{-1}$에서 가장 높은 85.3, 83.0, 87.0% 출아율이 나타났고, 출아율지수에서도 비중선 $1.040g\;L^{-1}$에서 2.82, 2.86, $2.87d^{-1}\;m^{-1}$ 이상의 높을 지수가 보였다. 4. 조 종자는 발아활력이 높은 종자선별을 위해서는 비중선 $1.040g\;L^{-1}$에서의 종자를 선별하여 파종하면 생산성이 크게 향상될 것으로 사료된다.