Variety traits

Lettuce germination

Lactuca sativa L.

Lettuce seed germination is an indicator of seed quality, characterizing its ability to sprout within a specified timeframe under strictly defined temperature and light conditions.

In the reference 8 varieties crop Lettuce, where this is mentioned in the description.

Laboratory determination of lettuce seed germination is conducted on the 10th day at a temperature of +20 °C on filter paper. A mandatory condition for germination is the presence of lighting, as well as pre-treatment of the seeds by cooling or warming. Germination energy is assessed on the 3rd–5th day; high-quality material should demonstrate rates at the 80–90% level or higher.

Lettuce seeds are susceptible to secondary dormancy or thermodormancy, where sowing under conditions with temperatures above +22 °C inhibits germination even in high-quality seeds. With age, the germination capacity of the crop decreases rapidly, approaching zero after only 2–3 years of storage. Monitoring these indicators is necessary for the precise calculation of seeding rates and for ensuring uniform emergence, which helps to minimize the risks of sparse stands.

General information about the subject — on the page Germination capacity.

Sources8

Varieties of Lettuce mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.