Determine the best time to harvest of high quality seed from mother plant in cow pea cultivar Kamran under Khuzestan weather conditions

Effect of harvest time on seed quality of cow pea cultivar Kamran was evaluated in a field experiment to determine the best time of harvest for achieving high quality seeds. The experiment was carried out based on RCBD in three replications. The treatment was the time of harvesting from mother plant in which seed were harvested at 9 stages in four-day intervals. Seed quality indicators including seed germination percentage, seedling dry weight, 1000-grain weight, electrical conductivity of seed lot and seed moisture content were determined for assessing seed quality. Results revealed that harvest time affected seed quality traits where with increasing harvest time and completing essential structures, seed germination, 1000-grain weight and seedling dry weight increased and EC and moisture content decreased. The highest seed quality was attained at 32 days after flowering which stayed constant until 38 days after flowering. However, regarding seed moisture content, 38 days after flowering was better harvest time, since at the time of 32 days after flowering, seeds had high moisture content which may result in mechanical damage to seeds. Therefore, because of high seed quality and low moisture content of seeds, at 38 days after flowering the highest seed quality can be achieved.