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Germination of Polycross Seed of Cicer Milkvetch as Affected by Year of Production¹

In many species, environmental conditions during maturation of seed influence subsequent germination. Comparable information is lacking for cicer milkvetch, Astragalus cicer L. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether environmental conditions, as measured by year of production, influence germination of polycross seed from selected clones of cicer milkvetch. Seeds produced in different years were germinated at 5 to 15, 5 to 20, and 15 to 25 C.

Year of seed production significantly influenced subsequent seed germination at all temperature treatments. Germination was most rapid at 15 to 25 C and slowest at 5 to 15 C. Germination by the 14th day (total germination) was generally highest at 15 to 25 C, hut was also high in some years at 5 to 20 C. Variability between years for germination was greatest at 5 to 15 C.

Within each year of production there were significant differences among polycross progenies for both rate of germination and total germination at all temperature treatments. Progenies that germinated rapidly at 5 to 20 C also tended to germinate rapidly at 15 to 25 C. However, some progenies that germinated rapidly at 15 to 25 C germinated slowly at 5 to 20 C. Rate of germination and total germination were substantially lower at 5 to 15 C than at the other temperature treatments for all progenies, but several progenies germinated comparatively rapidly at all treatments.

Key Words: Astralagus cicer L. • Germination temperature

² Research geneticist, ARS, USDA, Crops Research Laboratory, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO 80523. I appreciate the assistance of W. D. Ackerman and E. E. Kler in the collection of the data.

Received for publication March 7, 1977.