ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the methods, techniques, and equipment which can be used to assess the tolerance of breeding lines and established cultivars to sprouting. It determines the likely mechanisms responsible for tolerance, and assesses the level of sprouting damage in the laboratory and in the field. Preharvest sprouting represents a major constraint to the production of quality grain in many parts of the world and accordingly it has been the subject of a considerable amount of research. Tolerance to preharvest sprouting and the extent of damage caused by a particular episode of unfavorable weather will depend to a large extent on the stage of crop maturation. The methods which have been applied to the assessment of crop maturity can be divided into two groups: Subjective methods e.g., loss of green pigments from the glumes or flag leaves; and Objective methods e.g., grain dry weight and grain moisture content.
