A report of progress in research on the germination rate of bean seed is given at the end of the first year of trial. Five varieties of beans (Red Kidney, Arroz, Coscorrón, Cristal and Cristal Bayo) which are the most used in Chilean agriculture, are analyzed from this stand point. Both field and green house tests have been conducted. They show that germination rates are highly affected by poor cultural practices such as irrigation during the early stage of germination.
Germination rate varies also in time, according with the variety, from 10 to 20 days. After that, germination is practically mill.
The highest percentage of germination is shown in the Red Kidney variety, and the lowest in Arroz. On the other hand Red Kidney is the earliest variety in germination, and Coscorrón the latest.
Comparing field tests with green house tests it can be observed tha failure in germination in Red Kidney is only .20% under field conditions. Other varieties go from 30% to 48% (Arroz).
Presence of Rhizoctonia solani in the sand in which the variety Cristal was germinated in green house nullfied the comparison of both tests in this variety because of the low percentage of germination by this variety in sand culture.
Seeds of those five varieties will be stored and tested over a period of ten years in order to observe how the rate of germination decreases with time. |
ChileanJAR
