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Dormancy in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. II. Effect of Pericarp and Testa 1
Author(s) -
Clark L. E.,
Collier J. W.,
Langston Ruble
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1968.0011183x000800020004x
Subject(s) - dormancy , biology , germination , brown rice , horticulture , botany , white (mutation) , sorghum , sorghum bicolor , agronomy , biochemistry , food science , gene
The effect of the pericarp and testa on dormancy in sorghum seeds ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) was investigated. Seeds of 'Combine Kafir‐60' and 'Combine Shallu' had a white pericarp and the brown testa was absent. The pericarp of Kafir seeds was approximately twice as thick as that of Shallu seeds, primarily because of the thick, starchy mesocarp in Kafir seeds. The pericarp of F 1 seeds was like that of the maternal parent. F 2 seeds had a brown pericarp and a brown testa resulting from the interaction of three genes, B 1 , B 2 , and S. The structure of the pericarp of F 2 seeds was similar to that of Shallu. Segregation occurred in the F 2 generation (producing F 3 seeds) in a ratio of nine brown‐seeded to seven white‐seeded plants. Brown seeds had a brown pericarp and brown testa, and white seeds had a white pericarp and the brown testa was absent. Results of germination tests of seeds harvested at comparable stages of maturity suggested that the pericarp and testa were involved in dormancy. The pericarp apparently functioned in dormancy in Shallu, F 2 , and brown and white F 3 seeds. Dormancy in Shallu seeds was greater than that in Kafir seeds, but the dormancy of Shallu was not transmitted to F 2 seeds. White F 3 seeds were intermediate between the two parents, suggesting that the pericarp functioned in dormancy. Dormancy was associated with the brown pericarp and brown testa of F 2 and brown F 3 seeds. The F 2 seeds were more dormant than the most dormant parent, Shallu, and brown F 3 seeds were more dormant than white F 3 seeds, showing the close association of dormancy with the brown pericarp and brown testa.