Electrical conductivity measurement to predict germination of commercially available radish seed lots

The potential of the electrical conductivity test (EC) of seed soak water in predicting germination of radish seeds (cv. Finclik) was examined. Due to radical protrusion, EC measurements over 14 hours cannot be carried out during soaking at 15 and 20 degrees C; eight hours of soaking is suggested for results in one working day. Regression models were developed between EC and percentages of normal and abnormal seedlings or not germinated (dead) seeds obtained for 60 artificially aged seed lots. The resulting regression models were tested to predict standard germination percentages of twelve commercially available radish seed lots having final germination ranging between 78 and 98%. EC was negatively related to percentage of normal seedlings (R-2 = 0.71, P < 0.001) and positively related to percentage of dead seeds (R-2 = 0.65, P < 0.01). Data suggested that the standard laboratory gemination test can be replaced by EC measurements carried out at eight hours soaking, shortening analysis time for the estimation of radish seed germination quality.