To germinate or not to germinate? Towards understanding the role dormancy plays in canola seed and seedling vigour and stand establishment

Researcher: Sally Vail, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Saskatoon SK, Rob Gulden, University of Manitoba and Steve Shirtliffe, University of Saskatchewan

Project Code: CARP CCC 2015-27 Vail

Final Report: May 2018

Summary: Researchers in Saskatchewan conducted a project to resolve the connection between primary and secondary dormancy, premature germination (sometimes found in the pods of maturing canola), overall seed biology, and seed and seedling vigour related traits across a diverse panel of Brassica napus (canola) lines. The results showed a very wide range in secondary dormancy potential (SDP) across a spring B. napus diversity collection with several high SDP lines being much greater than those identified in the earlier studies. However, the study found no association between SDP and any of the other germination or seed vigour parameters, demonstrating the need for screening for SDP in commercial seedlots. Overall the results from this project will guide plant breeding approaches to ultimately reduce the secondary or inducible dormancy potential of canola.

Click the links below to download a short version of the report, the full detailed long version of the report, or the related Canola Digest PDF.