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Hydrothermal time analysis of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris cv. ‘Crimson sweet’) seed germination

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Abstract

This study evaluated the ability of a hydrothermal time model (HTT) to describe the kinetics of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris cv. ‘Crimson sweet’) seed germination under different temperatures (T) and water potentials (ψ) and also to determine the cardinal temperatures of watermelon. Results indicated that ψ influenced germination rate and germination percentage. For this seed lot, cardinal temperatures were 10 °C for T b, 28.34 °C for T o and 40.8 °C for T c in the control (0 MPa) treatment. There was a decrease in hydrotime constant (θ H) when T was increased to T o and then remained constant at supra-optimal temperatures (30 MPah−1). Also, at temperatures above T o, ψ b(50) values increased linearly with T. The k T value (the slope of the relationship between ψ b(50) and T exceeds T o) of this seed lot was calculated as 0.076 MPa°Ch−1. Results this study show that when the HTT model is applied, it can accurately describe ψ b(g) and the course of germination around Ts (R 2 = 0.82). Moreover, the ψ b(50) was estimated to be −0.96 MPa based on this model. Consequently, the germination response of watermelon for all Ts and ψs can be adequately described by the HTT model and enabling it to be used as a predictive tool in watermelon seed germination simulation models.

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Abbreviations

FGP:

Final germination percentage

GP:

Germination percentage

GR:

Germination rate

HTT:

Hydrothermal time model

k T :

The slope of the relationship between ψb(50) and T exceeds T o

MPa:

Megapascal

T :

Temperature

T b :

Minimum temperature

T c :

Maximum temperature

t g :

The time required for a fraction or percentage of germination

T o :

Optimum temperature

TT:

Thermal time model

θ H :

Hydrotime model

σψ b :

Standard deviation of ψ b within the seed population

ψ :

Water potential

ψ b(50) :

The base ψ of the 50th percentile

ψ b :

Base water potential

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Acknowledgments

The advice and commentary provided by Dr. Kent J. Bradford (Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, USA) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, Genetics and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan and Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, P.O. Box 48131-81344, Sari, Iran

    Esmaeil Bakhshandeh & Hemmatollah Pirdashti

  2. Department of Horticultural Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

    Sadegh Atashi & Maryam Hafeznia

  3. P. O. Box 7, Miki-cho post office, Ikenobe 3011-2, Kagawa-ken, 761-0799, Japan

    Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva

Authors
  1. Esmaeil Bakhshandeh
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  2. Sadegh Atashi
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  3. Maryam Hafeznia
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  4. Hemmatollah Pirdashti
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  5. Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Esmaeil Bakhshandeh.

Additional information

Communicated by A. Gniazdowska-Piekarska.

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Bakhshandeh, E., Atashi, S., Hafeznia, M. et al. Hydrothermal time analysis of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris cv. ‘Crimson sweet’) seed germination. Acta Physiol Plant 37, 1738 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1738-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1738-y

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