The significance of damage during imbibition to the field emergence of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds

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Abstract
Differences in the field emergence of seed lots of vining peas were shown to be largely due to differences in the sensitivity of seeds to imbibition damage caused by the rapid uptake of water. The reduced emergence seen for all lots in wet soil resulted from a faster rate of water uptake and a consequent increase in imbibition damage. This caused both physiological death of low vigour seed lots and enhanced predisposition to pre-emergence mortality in unsterilized soil in all lots. The potential for the chemical protection of seeds against rapid water uptake is discussed.