The conductivity test is a measure of electrolytes leakage from plant tissue. The shorter the maturation period after heading was the greater electrical conductivity (EC) of rice seed. The polymer-coated seed was not different in EC compared with non-coated seed. As soaking time of rice seed increased, EC increased gradually. The EC varied from 9.9 to 20.7~mu S cm-1g-l for control plots and from 21.3 to 41.7~mu S cm-1g-l for heat-killed seeds which were produced by autoclaving seeds at 121~circC for 20 minutes. The germination speed (the rate of 5th day) of rice seed was 94% at control plot, 83% at low temperature and 20% at high temperature. Besides, germination percentage was 95% for the control, 92% for the low temperature treatment and 39% for the high temperature treatment. The EC was negatively correlated (r=-0.771** ) with germination percentage at low temperature. Water uptake in seeds of 30, 40, 50 days after heading (DAH) was greater than that of 20 DAH. Plant height of seedlings was 9.84 cm for the control but 4.32 cm for the high temperature treatment, and the tallest for polymer-coated seed. Dry weight of seedlings was 0.841 g for the control and 0.287 g at high temperature. Besides, the polymer-coated seed was heavier than non-coated seed. The number of roots was largest from 40 to 50 DAH and polymer-coated seed, but was decreased from 20 to 30 DAH. The length of roots was 20.52 cm at control plot and 19.89 cm polymer-coated seed but 8.68 cm for the low temperature treatment and 7.28 cm for the high temperature treatment.

• Jin Ho Kim
• Sheong Chun Lee
• Dong Seog Song