Controlled deterioration test for evaluation of sunn hemp seed vigor

Arthur Batoqui Costa E Silva,Clíssia Barboza Da Silva,Ícaro Monteiro Galvão,Rafael Marani Barbosa,Roberval Daiton Vieira

doi:10.1590/2317-1545v37n4151816

Arthur Batoqui Costa E Silva, Clíssia Barboza Da Silva + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v37n4151816

Copy DOI

Abstract

The controlled deterioration test is efficient for seed vigor evaluation of several species. However, the procedures conditions are incipient, especially in respect to tropical forages such as sunn hemp, which still does not have a standardized procedure. The objective of this research was to adjust the procedures for a controlled deterioration test in Crotalaria juncea L. seeds. For this, five commercial seed lots were evaluated for water content and initial physiological potential (germination test, first germination count, germination speed index, saturated salt accelerated aging with NaCl, electrical conductivity and seedling field emergence). For controlled deterioration test, the initial seed moisture content was adjusted to 18, 21 and 24% and, subsequently, the samples were exposed at 45 °C during 24 hours. Seed germination test was conducted with the use of sand as substrate. Evaluations were performed on the fourth, fifth and sixth day after sowing. The controlled deterioration test for sunn hemp seeds should be performed with 24% seed moisture content, at 45 °C during 24 hours, and the test evaluation on the fourth day after sowing.

Highlights

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) known as brown hemp, Indian hemp or Madras hemp is a forage legume used as green manure, which has a high potential for biomass production in crop rotation or intercropping systems, promoting improvements in the chemical, physical and biological soil properties, and becoming an important mechanism for recovery of degraded areas (Silva et al, 2012).The use of high quality seeds is essential for implementation of uniform fields
The controlled deterioration test is recommended for brassica seeds (ISTA, 2014), and widely used for various seed crops, including bean (Santos et al, 2003), peanut (Rossetto et al, 2004), melon (Mavi and Demir, 2007), cotton (Dutra and Medeiros-Filho, 2008), maize (Zucareli et al, 2011), beet (Silva and Vieira, 2012), coriander (Torres et al, 2012), scarlet eggplant (Lopes et al, 2012), soybean (Cabral et al, 2012), eggplant (Lopes et al, 2013), forage turnip (Morais and Rossetto, 2013) and okra (Torres et al, 2013)
The germination values of all the lots were acceptable for the commercialization of sunn hemp seeds, which is fixed at 60% by the Brazilian legislation (Brasil, 2008)

Summary

Introduction

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) known as brown hemp, Indian hemp or Madras hemp is a forage legume used as green manure, which has a high potential for biomass production in crop rotation or intercropping systems, promoting improvements in the chemical, physical and biological soil properties, and becoming an important mechanism for recovery of degraded areas (Silva et al, 2012).The use of high quality seeds is essential for implementation of uniform fields. Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) known as brown hemp, Indian hemp or Madras hemp is a forage legume used as green manure, which has a high potential for biomass production in crop rotation or intercropping systems, promoting improvements in the chemical, physical and biological soil properties, and becoming an important mechanism for recovery of degraded areas (Silva et al, 2012). Rapid and vigorous seedling establishment in the field are the keys factors to ensure the economic viability and sustainability in sunn hemp rotation and intercropping systems. Only the germination test is required to attest the physiological potential of seed lots. On the other hand, seed vigor tests are able to complement the determination of seed physiological potential because they can provide more sensitive information about this factor (Baalbaki et al, 2009)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion