Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

2018

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science

First Advisor

Melanie Caffe-Treml

Second Advisor

Karl Glover

Abstract

Oat (Avena Sativa) and hard red spring wheat (HRSW; Triticum aestivum L.) are both spring planted cereal crops that yield best when planted early in the spring. These crops would benefit from improvements in cold temperature germination tolerance (CTGT) by allowing them faster and more uniform germination and emergence early in the spring. This study aimed to (i) evaluate germination in oat genotypes over a range of sub-optimal temperatures and (ii) establish a methodology for selection of hard red spring wheat for CTGT. Seed samples of ten different oat genotypes were evaluated for CTGT in a germination chamber at the temperatures 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15°C. Temperature was held constant for two weeks for all temperatures, and three and four weeks for the lowest temperatures five and seven degrees Celsius. Results show that time and temperature, as well as their interactions affect germination significantly at reduced temperatures. Genotypes Horsepower and Colt germinated the best across the range of temperatures used. HRSW genotypes were planted on towels in a germination chamber, and the first and last seeds to germinate were transplanted into greenhouse pots. Four genotypes were used: Forefront, SD4011/Barlow, SD4330, and SD4189/SD3997. The first seeds to germinate were successfully transplanted into the greenhouse without difficulty, so breeders should be able to use this methodology to perform selections on HRSW to improve CTGT.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Oats -- Effect of temperature on.
Hard red spring wheat -- Effect of temperature on.
Oats -- Varieties.
Hard red spring wheat -- Varieties.
Germination.

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 37-40)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

49

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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Rights Statement

In Copyright