Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide Seed-Disinfestation Treatments on Germination and Development of Pisum sativum. A. W. Helton, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow 83843. Richard Dilbeck, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow 83843. Plant Dis. 66:784-787. Accepted for publication 28 January 1982. Copyright 1982 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-66-784.

Two groups of seeds of Pisum sativum ‘Alaska’ and ‘Garfield’ were treated with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30% hydrogen peroxide for 7.5, 15, 30, 45, or 60 min. One group was placed in germination plates to determine percentage of germination, radicle length, size of root-hair mass, and percentage of contamination after 5 days (Alaska) or 6 days (Garfield); the other group was planted in a greenhouse to determine stem length, number of nodes, number of reproductive nodes, root volume, root weight, or top weight at maturity (after 55 days for Alaska or 72 days for Garfield). Although most treatments enhanced plant performance for both cultivars, there were substantial differences for the various types of growth measured. Considering all measurement categories collectively, the single treatment that was as good or better than other treatments for both cultivars was immersion of seeds in 30% hydrogen peroxide for 45 min.

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