Abstract
Abstract: Seed analysis tests should be performed under standard conditions for each species, so that the results can be reproducible anywhere. Seeds of the forest species Toona ciliata var. australis have been commercialized in Brazil despite no standard conditions for their analysis have been published. The objective was to determine basic information about temperature and photoperiod for the germination test and the imbibition time and volume of water for electrical conductivity. In the germination test the seeds were incubated at 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C with 0, 12 and 16 h of light. The electrical conductivity was evaluated up to 108 h after immersion of the seeds in 50 and 100 mL of deionized water. The conditions of 25 °C and 16 h of light provided higher amount of normal seedlings. At 15 °C all seeds remained hard regardless the photoperiod used, however, it became absent when light was added at higher temperatures. The electrical conductivity test should be performed with a volume of 50 mL and evaluated after 24 h of imbibition. It also showed a stronger correlation between normal seedlings, being a promising vigor evaluation test for this species.
Highlights
Seed testing contributes to several research areas, which brings information to both seed producer and buyer
The experiment was carried out at the laboratory of the Department of Horticulture and Forestry belonging to the Faculty of Agronomy of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
The germination rate index (GR) variable showed a quadratic behavior with maximum value at 28 °C, where the germination occurred in less time (Figure 1 - A)
Summary
Seed testing contributes to several research areas, which brings information to both seed producer and buyer. The germination test, considered as an objective and reproducible for the evaluation of seed quality, is one of the most used tests and universally accepted by several entities (Elias et al, 2012). This test generate economically important information that allow a better understanding of the reproductive strategies of the plant, life history traits and habitat adaptations (Baskin and Baskin, 2014). Seeds at low temperatures are prone to cooling damages and reduced germination (Fenner and Thompson, 2005)
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