Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, cilt.20, sa.4, ss.295-298, 1996 (SCI-Expanded)
The effects of differences in testa colour (white, red), imbibition temperature (4°C, 20°C) and seed moisture (10 % >, 13 % <) on the occurrence of imbibition damage in beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. Yalova 5, 4F-89) were investigated. The seed quality criteria were germination, emergence and seedling growth. The coloured seed coat cultivar was superior to the white one with regard to all quality measurements. The higher the imbibition temperature, the less imbibition damage occurred. Seeds that had a moisture content higher than 13 % were less sensitive to imbibition damage. However, reduction in seed moisture and imbibition temperature caused more damaging effects on the white cultivar than the red one. This experiment clearly shows that bean seeds must be sown at an optimum soil temperature, wetness and seed moisture content. Particularly, more attention needs to be paid to white cultivars.