Except for radish, there are various pre-soaking hours for different seeds to be used in germination and early seedling bio assays in the laboratory. For lettuce, I read 4hr as optimum pre-soaking time. After pre-soaking treatment seeds are used for determination of various selected parameters (germination indices, seedling inhibition parameters).
If somebody is dealing with germination bioassays performed on weed seeds (Avena fatua, Phalaris minor etc.), S/he needs pre-soaking. Otherwise seeds will take a long for germination. Can anybody provide me any literature regarding mentioning the time for pre-soaking of different seeds?
Dear Huma
I am attaching some of my publications related to the subject.
Sr Qureshi,
Our farmer using 3 days for papaya, 4 days for almost horticolal crops (coliflower, onions) in condition: 2000 m (altitude) in Merida state (Venezuela)
The US Association of Official Seed Analysts has many useful publications dealing with this topic. Seeds of various species vary regarding their response to pre-germination soaking. Often this may be due to seed dormancy factors such as those present in many american warm-season native grasses which require a wet, pre-chill soaking to break dormancy.
Hello, in my plant physiology class we used to pre-soak for 12 hours and germination rate was quite high, but it will depend on the species that you are working with. Some need more water absorption before starting its metabolic activity than others. Some need aditional treatments to break the seed coat and let water in.
Here is a document that I found, maybe it could help
http://www.uri.edu/cels/ceoc/documents/germinatingSeeds.pdf
Regards
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