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Breaking Dormancy in Seeds of Pearl Millet, Pennisetum typhoides¹

Seeds of most pearl millet, Pennisetum typholdes (Burm.) Stapf and C.E. Hubb., genotypes are partially dormant for several weeks after harvest. Storage in airtight containers at 0 to 6 C extended the dormancy period in such seeds to more than 12 months. Leaching in running water and exposure to light failed to improve germination and exposure to dry heat from 60 to 90 C for 1 to 72 hours reduced the germination of dormant (but not nondormant) seeds. Soaks in water solutions of the following chemicals listed in order of decreasing effectiveness improved the germination of partially dormant pearl millet seed: 2-chlorocthanol, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, potassium nitrate, sulfuric acid, potassium salt of gibberellic acid, and kinetin. A 1-hour soak in a water solution of 1% 2-chloroethanol plus 0.5% sodium hypochlorite increased the germination of dormant pearl millet seeds significantly more than any other chemical without reducing the germination of any genotype tested.

Key Words: 2-chloroethanol • Hydrogen peroxide • Sodium hypochlorite • Potassium nitrate • Sulfuric acid • Gibberellic acid • Kinetin • Genotype

² Research Geneticist, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and the University of Georgia, College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, Coastal Plain Station, Tifton, Georgia 31794.

Received for publication April 5, 1969.