| Abstract: | Seeds of dwarf French beans showed evidence of damage alterimbibition in water in the form of dead tissue and high soluteleakage. Damage was more extensive in seeds of a cultivar withwhite testae (Tenderette) both at 20?C and with the initial6 h imbibition at 4?C where damage was more severe, whereasa cultivar with brown testae (Provider) was damaged only alterthe 4?C treatment. Tenderette imbibed more rapidly than Providerin both imbibition treatments. The significant correlationswithin each cultivar of both solute leakage (positive) and theextent of living tissue (negative) with the rate of water uptake,and the reduced damage when seeds imbibed slowly in PEG indicatedthat this was imbibition damage due to rapid water uptake. Differencesin the rates of water uptake were also observed in sand at 15%and 20% mc where rapid imbibition was associated with reducedgermination and the production of more abnormal seedlings. Atemperature of 4?C during the first 6 h germination in sandat 15% mc also reduced germination, particularly in Tcnderette.It is suggested that the more rapid water uptake by white seededcultivars of dwarf French beans and their greater susceptibilityto imbibition damage are responsible for their low vigour. Key words: Imbibition damage, vigour, dwarf French beans |
