Effect of different sowing dates on Azivash (Corchorusolitorius) seed quality

This study was conducted at the Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources farm, Iran, Golestan province with about 600 mm annual rainfall in order to evaluate the effect of different sowing dates on Azivash (Corchorusolitorius) seed quality, using a randomized complete block design with three replications on 2013. Treatments were four sowing dates such as May 5, Jun 5, Jul 11 and Agu 6. After seed maturity and harvesting, a seedling growth tests were done for each sowing date treatment in four replications. It used 25 number seeds in each replication. Seedling growth test was performed by BP (between paper) method for 7 days at 25C in incubator. The results showed that effect of sowing date treatment was significant on normal seedling percentage, abnormal seedling percentage, non-geminated seeds percentage and radicle and hypocotyl length. Mean comparison results showed that maximum normal seedling was recorded in Jun 5, Jul 11 and Agu 6 sowing dates. Minimum non-germinated seeds were recorded in Jul 11 sowing date. Also, seeds of Jul 11 sowing date treatment had the highest hypocotyl and radicle length. With regard to these founding and positive correlation between radicle length and normal seedling percentage and hypocotyl and radicle length with abnormal seedling percentage Jul 11 sowing date is the best sowing date for Azivash (Wild okra) cultivation in Gorganregional at Golestan province because of production of highest normal seedling production, lowest non-germinated seeds and longer hypocotyl and radicle length that result to highest seed quality and vigor.