Seed vigour and its role in seedling establishment

Seed vigour can be defined as the sum total of these properties of the seed that determine the potential level of activity and performance of the seed during germination. A seed vigour determines how well it perform, it’s ability to yield strong seedling that become robust and uniform plant.

The main component of the performance of crop seed is the complex trait of seed vigour. Crop yield and resources use efficiency depend on successful plant establishment in the field and it is the vigour of seed that defines their ability to germinate and establish seedling rapidly, uniformly, and robustly access diverse environmental conditions.

Some seed from different source may result in similarly high level of germination under optimal condition. While some seed under the more stressful condition experienced in the field may have vastly contrasting abilities to establish plant due to in their vigour. Vigour can therefore be considered as the potential performance of viable seed in agriculture practice and this is determined by the complex interaction between genetic and environmental component. The major impact of variation in seed vigour manifest through a negative direct effect on seedling emergence and therefore indirect effect on yield.

Writer: Laxmi Poudel (Student, Bsc Ag 4th Sem, IAAS, Paklihawa, Rupandehi)