Seed Size and Germination of Hulled and Unhulled Bermudagrass Seeds 1

Germination procedures used for testing bermudagrass [ Cyndon dactylon (L.) Pers.] seed were developed primarily from studies with “common”. Seed of strains other than common, produced under different environmental conditions, may have different germination requirements. Nine strains and five hybrids of bermudagrass, were examined for: 1) differences in seed size, 2) germination capacity in eight different environments, and 3) effects of moist prechill on germination. The objective was to evaluate the differences among strains for seed size and germination requirements. Seed size among strains were essentially the same during both years of study. Five strains [9945, Guymon, 9958, 10981, and 9958(x)] consistently produce larger seeds. Seed‐set under field conditions would not have to be as high as it was in these strains to have good seed yield potential. Fresh seed germinated best in a temperature regime alternating between 20 and 30 C. Germination of seed 2 months old, both hulled and unhulled, was significantly greater on substrate moistened with KNO 3 than with water. Light, alternating temperatures, and a substrate moistened with KNO 3 promoted germination in the dormant or fresh seeds of all but one strain. Moist prechill treatments tended to reduce viability of the hulled seed, but unhulled seed remained firm and germinaated well after prechill. This finding and the fact that warm alternating temperatures promoted maximum germination suggests that early (February through April) field plantings of hulled seed would not be as successful as late (May through July) plantings. Unhulled seed did not deteriorate as rapidly as hulled seed under moist prechill situations and may find use in February through April plantings.