APPLICATION OF THE SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE SEED VIABILITY TEST TO WILD OAT POPULATIONS WITH DIFFERENT DORMANCY CHARACTERISTICS

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Abstract
Viability estimates were made using germination, tetrazolium, and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) tests of seeds from three populations of wild oats (Avena fatua L.) with different dormancy characteristics. Complete germination occurred in Crop Science 40 seeds after dehulling and piercing (D + P) treatment, whereas only about 70% germination was obtained in Anderson 51 and mixed populations following this treatment. The dormant seeds of Anderson 51 and mixed populations required gibberellic acid (GA3) for germination, indicating that these seeds had deeper GA3-dependent dormancy than did CS 40 seeds. The NaOCl viability test gave reliable viability estimates of all three populations. Dehulled seeds required less immersion time in 6% NaOCl and a lower concentration of NaOCl for embryos to become sharply defined than did intact seeds. The closely comparable results of viability estimates for dehulled seeds made immediately after 1–3 h NaOCl treatments and their subsequent germination responses in water gave the first direct evidence in support of the validity of the NaOCl viability test. Standards were established to ensure that the NaOCl viability test can accurately estimate viability under various sets of conditions. Samples of 33 seeds that had imbibed water for 24 h were immersed for 24 h in 12 mL of 6% NaOCl. The volume of NaOCl was increased to 20 mL for samples of 50 seeds. The NaOCl viability test has proved to be flexible and well-suited for studying the survival mechanisms of wild oats.