Determination of Some Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of Seeds of Different Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) Genotypes

Abstract

Grains are one of the most important food sources in human and animal nutrition. Many researches are carried out to increase the production quantity and quality of grains. Considering the problems that may occur in grain production due to recent climatic changes, taking necessary precautions will have a positive effect on reducing input costs for producers. For this reason, the importance of agricultural mechanization practices in grain production is increasing. This study was carried out in the laboratories of Bingol University Faculty of Agriculture, Biosystem Engineering and Field Crops departments in 2019-2020. In the study, seeds of five different millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) genotypes (Ashara, Heveahri, Salix, White and Yellow) were examined; morphological (shape-size, surface area, mean arithmetic and geometric diameter, sphericity and thousand-seed weight) and physiological (germination rate and germination time) properties of these seeds were determined. The results obtained were evaluated at the p<0.05 significance level in the SPSS v.22 statistical program. According to the data obtained in the study; It was determined that all of the seeds with five different millet genotypes had a medium and oval form, had an average length of 0.325 mm, a width of 0.230 mm, a surface area of 0.062 mm2 and a thousand grain weight of 7.005 g. At the end of the research, some morphological and physiological characteristics of pearl millet seeds with different genotypes were determined. It has been concluded that the evaluation of the obtained data in areas such as agricultural mechanization, seed improvement and seed technology will contribute to reducing the input costs of the producers and controlling erosion.