Seed Imbibitation and Drying as a Technique in Evaluating Sorghum Lines for Adaption to Dry Sowing in the Semi-arid Tropics

Abstract

SummarySeeds of 50 sorghum genotypes were tested for emergence after imbibition in water for different times followed by up to 30 days of drying. The emergence of a large number of sorghum genotypes was then tested after 40 h imbibition in water followed by 10 h drying. Genotypes selected as resistant to 45 hours imbibition and 10 days drying regained turgor in the radicle and plumule when exposed to imbibition and drying injury. Genotypes showed significant difference both for emergence and seedling dry weight after exposure to this stress. The genotypes resistant to imbibition injury and drying had a specific protein of 33.0 KDa which was absent from those which were susceptible to such stress.La adaptación del sorgo a la siembra seca