ABSTRACT
A number of investigations have been carried out in order to study the effects of temperature and rainfall on the intensity and duration of seed dormancy of cereals in field prior to harvest. B. Belderok found a close connection between the temperature sum above 12.5°C during the dough ripe stage and the length of the dormancy period. At the Department of Farm Crops, investigations of the effects of weather conditions on pre-harvest ear sprouting and other quality damage of small grain cereals have been carried out since 1951. This chapter examines the effects of temperature and rainfall on the intensity and duration of seed dormancy in field prior to harvest. Since 1959 routine tests for seed dormancy have been used for selection of cultivars and breeding material to improve resistance against pre-harvest ear sprouting. Seed dormancy was determined by germination tests of 200 kernels in moist sand at 12°C and 20°C for 10 days following Official Seed Testing Procedures.
