Common Abnormal Phenomena During Rice Seed Germination and Remedial Measures

During the germination of rice seeds, abnormal phenomena such as dead seeds, slime production, sprout scorching, and uneven roots and sprouts occur. In fact, these conditions are mostly caused by poor management; as long as the cause is identified and reasonable remedial measures are taken promptly, losses can be reduced and strong seedlings can be cultivated.

1. Many dead seeds. A dead seed rate generally not exceeding 5% is normal. The main causes of many dead seeds are poor seed quality; or insufficient soaking time resulting in inadequate water absorption; or low temperature during the breaking stage and uneven turning and mixing, resulting in uneven breaking. Therefore, seeds must be carefully selected, fully soaked, and subjected to high-temperature breaking.

2. Slime production and alcohol poisoning. During germination, excessive moisture in the seed pile, insufficient temperature, and overly prolonged time cause severe oxygen deficiency, and the seeds undergo anaerobic respiration, producing alcohol poisoning; at the same time, the husks become slimy and stick to the hands, and in severe cases become moldy and deteriorated. Therefore, during germination, attention should be paid to heat preservation and preventing excessive watering. Rice seeds that have already become slimy can be promptly washed clean in warm water at about 30 degrees and put back into a pile for germination.

3. High-temperature sprout scorching. This is mainly because during the peak breaking period, the seed pile temperature is too high and ventilation is poor, and the seeds undergo anaerobic respiration, causing alcohol accumulation poisoning. Therefore, high-temperature sprout scorching is generally accompanied by alcohol poisoning. Thus, during germination, the seed pile temperature must be checked frequently, and when the temperature exceeds 30°c, the pile should be promptly turned to dissipate heat and ventilate. If the seeds suffer mild alcohol poisoning, they can be washed and germination continued.

4. Uneven roots and sprouts. During the germination process, due to improper germination techniques, the phenomena of “roots but no sprouts” or “sprouts but no roots” often occur, the root cause being failure to properly control the relationship among water, air, and temperature. As long as the rules of “dry promotes roots, wet promotes sprouts” and “cold promotes roots, heat promotes sprouts” are followed, and the relationship between moisture and temperature is properly regulated, the phenomenon of uneven roots and sprouts can be solved.