46 



CONTROL SERIES No. 67 



Laboratory and Field Germination Tests of Garden Peas 



Seed Laboratory, Depts. of Vegetable Gardening and Botany Cooperating 



The pea germination trials as conducted in 1931 were repeated this year 

 for the purpose of making further observations on seed viability and seed- 

 borne diseases, using the same series of seed samples. Although a second 

 planting was not made in the field, in addition to the field germination test, 

 for the purpose of taking yield records, the plants in the germination plot 

 were allowed to grow to maturity in order that observations might be made 

 on the occurrence of seed-borne diseases. One hundred and twelve lots of 

 seed were used, with one hundred seeds in each sample. 



While there is little to be added to or changed in the summary remarks for 

 the 1931 report, yet it might well be stressed that the following factors appear 

 to have a definite bearing upon the germinating properties of pea seeds in the 

 laboratory and upon the stand and vigor of plants in the field. 



1. Presence of entirely dead or non-viable seeds, due at least in part to 

 immature seeds, severely injured or broken seeds, and failure of the 

 intake pore to open for water absorption. 



2. Weak, incomplete, or abnormal germination, resulting in either non- 

 emergence ir th- field, or weak, unproductive plants, due primarily 

 to low vitality or to injured seed coat, cotyledons or embryo. 



3. Heavy contamination of seed by common molds, which are able not 

 only to cause decay of cotyledons during germination, but also to 

 infect the seedling in the field at the first node and at root injuries. 



4. Seed contamination or infection by field disease organisms, each of 

 which may cause one or more of the following conditions: Decay of 

 seed before germination; death of seedling due to root or stem rot 

 before or shortly after emergence; stunting and weakening of the 

 plant throughout the season due to root infection, resulting in low or 

 no yields; wilting and subsequent death of the plant any time after 

 early blossom, due to vascular infection of root and stem, resulting in 

 reduction of stand, vigor of plants, and yield. 



It has been found advisable to discontinue field experiments because of soil 

 conditions not adapted to satisfactory culture of this crop. 



Type and Variety Tests of Legumes 



Conducted in Conjunction with the Department of Agronomy 

 Prof. M. H. Cubbon 



Plantings in twelve foot rows were made August 7, 1931, the entire area 

 having previously received a broadcast application of nitrophoska. Growth 

 was exceptionally good. Observations were made at three stages of growth 

 during the 1932 season, results of these being shown below. 



