Abstract: Seed coats of red clover (Trifolium pretense) with different maturities show different colors. Due to the long flowering period of red clover, the maturity of seeds in the same batch is quite different at harvest time. In order to clarify the relationship between seed maturity and seed vigor, red clover seeds with yellow (YS), yellow-brown (HS), brown (RS) and mixed-color (MS) in the same seed batch were used as experimental materials. Germination tests at room temperature, low temperature and desiccation were carried out to detect germination indexes of different color seeds dectric conductivity and OD value of seed leachate, and comprehensively evaluate the vigor difference of seeds with different colors. The results showed that there were significant differences in germination indexes of red clover seeds with different colors, among which the germination potential (GP), germination rate (GR) and germination index (GI) of yellow seeds were the highest, and the mean germination days (MGD) were the least. At the same time, the dectric conductivity and OD value of yellow seed leachate were the least, and significantly lower than those of other color seeds. Regression and correlation analysis also showed that the dectric conductivity and OD value of red clover seed leachate were closely related to seed vigor. Fuzzy membership function method was used to comprehensively evaluate seed vigor of red clover with four colors, which showed the order of seed vigor was YS > RS > MS > HS. The present research provided references for the cleaning and processing of red clover seeds and their timely harvest.

Key words: red clover, seed maturity, seed vigor, germination test

摘要：

关键词: 红三叶, 种子成熟度, 种子活力, 发芽试验