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Physiology of Oil Seeds. VII. Growing Season and Location Effects on Seedling Vigor and Ethylene Production by Seeds of Three Peanut Cultivars^1,2,

Seeds of three peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars from two growing seasons, 1974 and 1975, and four locations in Texas were tested for germinability and ethylene production. Because ethylene is an important regulator of peanut seed germination, we attempted to correlate its production with differences in early seedling growth. We found three growth distributions and ethylene production patterns. 1) When the majority of the seeds in the population had a high degree of vigor (78±8% of the seedlings had a hypocotyl-radicle length >20 mm at 70 hours of germination), they also had a characteristic ethylene production maximum at 21 hours of germination. 2) When the majority of the seeds in the population had a low degree of vigor (only 30% of the seedlings had a hypocotyl-radicle length >20 ram), ethylene production was reduced at 21 hours and the maximum occurred at 45 hours of germination. 3) When a majority of the seeds were in intermediate growth between 1) and 2), ethylene production was reduced by about 50% at 21 hours for the high ethylene-producing cultivars ‘Starr’ and ‘Tamnut 74’, but was not significantly changed for ‘Florunner’, a comparatively low ethylene-producing cultivar. Reduced seedling vigor was significantly correlated with decreased ethylene production at 21 hours for Start and Tamnut 74, but not for Florunner. Both seedling growth and ethylene production were altered by growing season and location. The majority of the seeds in the population, however, showed vigorous growth when the ethylene production rates exceeded a critical minimum level.

Key Words: Arachis hypogaea L. • Germination • Groundnut • Seedling growth

² Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute endorsement by the USDA or Texas A&M Univ. and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that also may be suitable.

³ Research plant physiologist, SEA-USDA, Dep. of Plant Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843 and associate professors, Texas A&M Univ. x Tarleton Exp. Stn., P. O. Box 292, Stephenville, TX 76401, aud Soils and Crop Sciences Dep., Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843.

Received for publication September 6, 1977.