Electrical conductivity of seed soak water predicts seedling emergence and seed storage potential in commercial seed lots of radish

Electrical conductivity (EC) measurements of seed soak water after 17 and 24 hours of nine commercially acceptable seed lots (79-100% standard germination) of the salad radish cultivar Fındık were positively correlated with the mean time taken to emerge (MET) and negatively with final emergence (%) in sowings in modules and in the field. EC after 17 hours was closely related to both the means of the two sowings (R ² = 0.877; P < 0.001), and standard germination after 12 months storage (R ² = 0.868, P < 0.001). Thus increased levels of electrolyte leakage were associated with slower and lower emergence and with poorer storage potential. The mean germination time (MGT) to radicle emergence (RE) during germination at 20°C was similarly correlated with seed performance. The slower seed lots were to RE, the slower and lower was the emergence and the poorer the storage potential. EC after 17 hours was positively related to MGT (R ² = 0.799; P < 0.01) and negatively related to germination after controlled deterioration, a measure of seed age (R ² = 0.741; P < 0.01). Seed lots showing high levels of leakage were slower to RE and were more deteriorated. High leakage was associated both with seed lots having high percentages of dead seeds (no RE) and seeds producing abnormal seedlings, and also with lots containing seeds that were slow to produce an emerged radicle. EC is suggested as a potential one-day routine test of physiological seed quality for radish and the overall findings are discussed in relation to the effects of deterioration brought about by seed ageing.