Parent seed weight, plant growth, and seeding in ‘Grasslands Tama’ Westerwolds ryegrass

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Abstract
Increasing the weight of individual seeds sown increased: (1) seedling growth, (2) pasture production, and (3) yields and individual seed weights in subsequent crops. It is suggested that stricter quality control in seed-dressing techniques in justifiable. The above results, and a 10% seed weight heritability factor and positive relationships between seed weight and embryo size and weight, indicate that seed weight may be used as a valid selection criterion. Absolute plant-weight differences resulting from differences in parent seed weights appeared to increase with plant age. However, these were found to be functions of growth rate and growth period. Results indicate that adjustment of seeding rate to cope with differences in seed weight may be just as important within a species or variety as it is between species or varieties.

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