EFFECT OF SEED WEIGHT ON COLEOPTILE DIMENSIONS IN BARLEY

Abstract

The relationships between seed weight and coleoptile size were studied in seven cultivars and two F2 populations of winter barley (Hordeum sativum Jess.). Variability for seed weight within a cultivar does not affect variability for coleoptile length; the differences in seed weight within a cultivar affect both coleoptile basal width and coleoptile fresh weight. When cultivars differing in seed weight are compared, there is no indication of any relationship between seed weight and either coleoptile length or coleoptile fresh weight. Removal of part of the endosperm did modify the relationship between seed weight and coleoptile size: the within-cultivars regression analysis showed that the weight of mutilated seeds significantly affected coleoptile length.