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Dormancy in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. II. Effect of Pericarp and Testa¹

The effect of the pericarp and testa on dormancy in sorghum seeds (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) was investigated. Seeds of 'Combine Kafir-60' and 'Combine Shallu' had a white pericarp and the brown testa was absent. The pericarp of Kafir seeds was approximately twice as thick as that of Shallu seeds, primarily because of the thick, starchy mesocarp in Kafir seeds. The pericarp of F₁ seeds was like that of the maternal parent. F₂ seeds had a brown pericarp and a brown testa resulting from the interaction of three genes, B₁, B₂, and S. The structure of the pericarp of F₂ seeds was similar to that of Shallu. Segregation occurred in the F₂ generation (producing F₃ seeds) in a ratio of nine brown-seeded to seven white-seeded plants. Brown seeds had a brown pericarp and brown testa, and white seeds had a white pericarp and the brown testa was absent.

Results of germination tests of seeds harvested at comparable stages of maturity suggested that the pericarp and testa were involved in dormancy. The pericarp apparently functioned in dormancy in Shallu, F₂, and brown and white F₃ seeds. Dormancy in Shallu seeds was greater than that in Kafir seeds, but the dormancy of Shallu was not transmitted to F₂ seeds. White F₃ seeds were intermediate between the two parents, suggesting that the pericarp functioned in dormancy.

Dormancy was associated with the brown pericarp and brown testa of F₂ and brown F₃ seeds. The F₂ seeds were more dormant than the most dormant parent, Shallu, and brown F₃ seeds were more dormant than white F₃ seeds, showing the close association of dormancy with the brown pericarp and brown testa.

Key Words: seeds • germination • seed moisture

² Assistant Professor and Associate Professor, Soil and Crop Sciences Department, and Professor, Plant Sciences Department, Texas A&M University.

Received for publication August 7, 1967.