Chlorophyll fluorescence sorting as a method for improvement of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seed health and germination

Important factors which determine seed quality, include the maturity and viability, expressed as percentage and uniformity of germination, as well as the presence of certain diseases in a seed lot. Although the physiological aspects of germination are of utmost importance, the impact of the seed-borne pathogens should not be ignored. In the present study the chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) technique was used to measure differences in the chlorophyll contents in barley grains (Hordeum vulgare L.), as a quality factor for maturity and germination. Sorting a barley seed lot into six subsamples varying in CF values resulted in an optimal seed quality for the subsamples with low and intermediate CF signals. The amount of chlorophyll was related to the germination performance and the health status of the seeds. The percentage of seeds contaminated with Fusarium spp. and Cochliobolus sativus, both known to affect germination, showed a relation with CF value - the subsample with the highest CF signals was always the most heavily infected. CF sorting of the barley seeds improved their germination quality not only on the basis of removing less mature grain, but also due to removing the seeds with the heaviest fungal infection levels.