Publication Date
1993
Description
One experiment tested the effects of 2 seed sizes (from small and large pods) and 2 levels of hnrdseededness (low and high) on survival of Medicago truncatula Oaerln. cv. Paraggio seeds in whole pods fed to sheep. A maximum survival of 6.6% was obtained for the viable seed output/total seed input when the small pod size (small seeds) with the highest level of hard seed was fed to the sheep. Dy contrast, there was only n 1.1 % survival when the large pod size (larger seeds) with the lowest level of hard seed was fed to sheep. A second experiment examined the effects of i11 sacco digestion using 4 replicate rumen-fistulated Merino wethers, on the survival of small and large seeds of Sava snail medic (M. scutellata L.) and Paraggio barrel medic selected for both JOO% soft and 100% hard seeds. All soft seed of both species was digested; however, the percentage survival of small hard seeds was significantly greater than for large hard seeds. The experiments revealed that the resistance of hard seed to digestion depended largely upon seed size: small seed escaped the chewing process much better than large seed. Clearly the chewing process had for more influence on seed survival than digestion even when the conditions of the abomasum were simulated.
Citation
Squella, F and Carter, E D., "Significance of Seed Size and Level of Hard Seededness on Survival of Medic Seeds ingested by Sheep" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 45.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session12/45
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Significance of Seed Size and Level of Hard Seededness on Survival of Medic Seeds ingested by Sheep
One experiment tested the effects of 2 seed sizes (from small and large pods) and 2 levels of hnrdseededness (low and high) on survival of Medicago truncatula Oaerln. cv. Paraggio seeds in whole pods fed to sheep. A maximum survival of 6.6% was obtained for the viable seed output/total seed input when the small pod size (small seeds) with the highest level of hard seed was fed to the sheep. Dy contrast, there was only n 1.1 % survival when the large pod size (larger seeds) with the lowest level of hard seed was fed to sheep. A second experiment examined the effects of i11 sacco digestion using 4 replicate rumen-fistulated Merino wethers, on the survival of small and large seeds of Sava snail medic (M. scutellata L.) and Paraggio barrel medic selected for both JOO% soft and 100% hard seeds. All soft seed of both species was digested; however, the percentage survival of small hard seeds was significantly greater than for large hard seeds. The experiments revealed that the resistance of hard seed to digestion depended largely upon seed size: small seed escaped the chewing process much better than large seed. Clearly the chewing process had for more influence on seed survival than digestion even when the conditions of the abomasum were simulated.
