Testing Festuca arundinacea seeds during storage.

Changes in cellular metabolism, whether caused by nutrition deficiencies or improper storage conditions, result in inefficient germination physiology (BUSTAMANTE L. et al., 1984., MIRDAD Z. et al., 2006, STANISAVLJEVIC R. et al. 2010 ). The aim of the present study was to examine the relation among the parameters that influence seed storability in the granary, for variety Palma of Festuca arundinacea. The seed for this variety was produced under the conditions characteristic for Banat area, in the west of Romania. The samples we analysed were taken from the granary where tall fescue seeds are kept. We took samples five months after harvest, during three consecutive years, namely: 2009, 2010 and 2011. For the analysis, we took several samples from the granary; these samples were combined and we extracted the lab sample for determining the purity, germination and the moisture sample. Germination testing was made in compliance with the current ISTA rules (International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)-2002) and Order SR 1634. We determined the following: germination (%/number), pure seeds (%weight) and moisture content (%). In order to determine the germination of Festuca arundinacea seeds, we used the TP-top of paper method. The following categories were highlighted on the germination layer: normal seedlings; abnormal seedlings; dead seeds. The results obtained while testing germination in the three consecutive years led us to the conclusion that improper storage conditions, i.e. increased moisture, influence germination percentage for variety Palma of Festuca arundinacea. Moisture content and dead seeds influence abnormal seedlings in a direct way. The poorest results from the point of view of the parameters we studied were recorded in 2009, while the best results were recorded in 2011. The relay index shows the similarities between years 2010 and 2011 (relay index for 2010 was 1.8183 and for 2011 it was 2), when the germination percentage was the highest. The assessment of germination, moisture and purity for variety Palma of Festuca arundinacea, grown in the conditions present in România, by the firm SC.Zanandreea Sementi, brings more information on the behaviour of this variety during storage.