Adjustment of the methodology of the tetrazolium test for estimating viability of Eugenia uniflora L. seeds during storage

Simone Cristina Simonato,Michele Fernanda Bortolini,Daiana Karoline Kaiser,Rubia Priscila Biron,Laura Cristiane Nascimento De Freitas

doi:10.1590/2317-1545v36n31022

Simone Cristina Simonato, Michele Fernanda Bortolini + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v36n31022

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Abstract

The study aimed to adjust the methodology of the tetrazolium test to estimate seed viability of Eugenia uniflora L. (Surinam Cherry). Seeds were collected in September 2012 and divided into four lots: freshly harvested (Lot I); stored in plastic bags in a refrigerator at 10 °C for: 15 days (Lot II); 30 days (Lot III); and 45 days (Lot IV). The freshly harvested seeds were preconditioned with direct immersion in water and wet paper towel, followed or not by longitudinal cutting. The seeds were immersed in a 0.1% tetrazolium solution for 4 hours at 30 °C. Appropriate soaking and preparation methods were applied to the seeds lots using three tetrazolium concentrations: 0.1; 0.5; and 1.0%; and four preconditioning periods (2, 4, 6 and 8 hours) at 30 °C. The viability results obtained by the tetrazolium test were compared with those of the germination test. Direct immersion of seeds in water for 24 hours at 25 °C, followed by a longitudinal cut was efficient for preconditioning the seeds. Seed staining with tetrazolium solution at a concentration of 0.5% for 2 hours at 30 °C can be used to estimate the viability of freshly harvested and stored Surinam Cherry seeds.

Highlights

Brazil has a considerable area of native forest with a great diversity of fruit trees, many of them with potential use still little explored and lacking studies to allow their rational exploitation (Kohama et al, 2006)
In the family Myrtaceae, numerous species are found in such condition, especially the genus Eugenia (Bülow et al, 1994)
The mean weight of 1000 seeds was 347.70 g, corresponding to 2,876 seeds/kg or 0.35 g/seed, which is in agreement with the values proposed on Instructions for analyses of forest species seeds (Brasil, 2013), i.e., 2,300 to 5,000 seeds/kg, but above the values reported by Lorenzi (2002) (2,350 seeds/kg)

Summary

Introduction

Brazil has a considerable area of native forest with a great diversity of fruit trees, many of them with potential use still little explored and lacking studies to allow their rational exploitation (Kohama et al, 2006). In the family Myrtaceae, numerous species are found in such condition, especially the genus Eugenia (Bülow et al, 1994). Among the species of this genus, Eugenia uniflora L., commonly known as Surinam Cherry, occupies a distinctive position. It is a species that has multiple uses; it is considered a source for the production of herbal medicines, essential oils, cosmetics and dyes. Its use is indispensable in programs of restoration of degraded ecosystems (Lorenzi, 2002; Carvalho, 2006; Vieira et al, 2011)

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