EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR DORMANCY BREAKING OF 15 NEW-IMPROVED RICE VARIETIES TO ENHANCE THE VALIDITY OF GERMINATION TEST

Dormancy is acharacteristic of seeds, which is genetically inherited and is an important factor in the germination
of seeds. Dormancy in rice serves as a mechanism of survival by protecting the seed from germinating in the
mother-plants, however it becomes a problem in germination evaluation as part of seed quality testing when
methods for overcoming dormancy is not effective.Seven different treatments were used to determine seed
dormancy of 15 new improved-varieties. Results showed all varieties tested have a diversity of dormancies. A
total of 15 varieties showed intensity of dormancy varied between 47-98%.Persistency of dormancy of the 15
varieties ranged between 2-8 weeks. At the beginning of seed storage (0 week), the results showed that 14 out of
15 varieties treated by drying at temperature of 50oC for 48 h and continued by soaking the seeds in 10 ppm GA3
solution for 24 h gave means value of seed germination ≥85%, whereas the control seeds of 15 tested varieties
showed means value of germination below 60%. This method of breaking seed dormancy is considered to be
effective and available to be used by seed analysts on rice seed germination testing specifically for those 14
varieties tested.