Influence of physiological maturity on germinability in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during the rainy season 1988 to srody tl!e effect of physioiogicai maturity on germination of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R Br. emend. Stuntz]. When pearl millet seeds were harvested at different stages of maturity at 1-week intervals following stigma emergence, there was a gradual decrease in the water content of the developing seed from 87 to 11 %. This was accompanied by an increase in the dcy-matter accumulation from 1.6 to 10.6 g/l 000 grain with a corresponding increase in the seed germination. Physiological maturity was attained at 11 % moisture content, which was 35-42 days after stigma emergence. This may be used as the harvest date for this crop. Germinable seeds may be collected much earlier than the time of maximum dry-weight accumulation.