Hordeum vulgare

Why are the seeds of this species difficult? The seeds may have physiological dormancy, which can be overcome by mimicking the seasonal patterns of the species' native habitat. Wild-growing sub-species may produce a high proportion of empty seeds, which collectors and curators must take account of.

Hordeum vulgare (Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

Seed Storage

This species has Orthodox seeds - dry to 15-20% eRH and store at -20ºC, or as cool as possible.

Germination Requirements

Germinate on agar, germination paper or sand at 20ºC. Perform a cut-test on any seeds that have not germinated, to check for empty seeds. All empty seeds are non-viable in germination tests.

The seeds of this species may have Physiological Dormancy. If germination is low, overcome dormancy using a moist pre-chill (5-10ºC) or pre-heat (30-35ºC) treatment (depending on local climatic conditions), before germinating the seeds at their optimum temperature.

Seed Morphology

Hordeum vulgare
(Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

The occurrence of empty seeds is common in wild-collected accessions of this species. Empty seeds may have a normal seed coat but an absent or under-developed embryo, or limited storage tissue.

The fruit is a caryopsis. The lemma and palea are usually invested.

See other images of this species at the Digital Seed Atlas of the Netherlands.

Taxonomy

Family: POACEAE

Accepted name: Hordeum vulgare L.

Synonyms: Hordeum deficiens Steud. ex A.Braun, Hordeum tertrastichum Körn.

Common name: barley

References and Links

Baskin, C.C. and Baskin J.M. (1998). Seeds: ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination. Academic Press, USA.
Black, M., Bewley, J.D. and Halmer, P. (2006). The Encyclopaedia of Seeds: science, technology and uses. CAB International, UK.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (1994). Genebank Standards. FAO/IPGRI, Rome, Italy.
International Seed Testing Association (2010). International Rules for Seed Testing: edition 2010. ISTA, Bassersdorf, Switzerland.
Purseglove, J.W. (1985). Tropical Crops: monocotyledons. Longman Group Ltd., UK.
Rao, N.K., Hanson, J., Dulloo, M.E., Ghosh, K., Nowell, D. and Larinde, M. (2006). Manual of seed handling in genebanks. Handbooks for Genebanks No. 8. Bioversity International, Rome, Italy.

AFPD (African Flowering Plants Database) - Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland, and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA: Hordeum vulgare.
PROTAbase (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - Wageningen, Netherlands: Hordeum vulgare.
SID (Seed Information Database) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: Hordeum vulgare.
Tropicos - Missouri Botanical Garden, USA: Hordeum vulgare.