Procedure and General Features of Testing Breakage Resistance of Seedcoat in Euphorbia lathyris L.

The breakage resistance of the seedcoat of Euphorbia lathyris was measured in terms of compressive force and deformation. Using an Instron Universal Testing Machine, seeds of genetically divergent descent were tested at a moisture content comparable to that at harvesting time in the field.
In comparison to other crop species breakage resistance of caper spurge is characterized by low values of force and medium ones for deformation. In connection with a likewise weakly expressed degree of elasticity the large portion of damaged seeds observed during mechanical harvesting becomes understandable. Regarding the descent of seed samples the eventual implication of an unsufficient variation of the character in question is becoming evident.