Abstract
The electrical conductivity test enables the evaluation of seed vigor for a maximum period of 24 hours, but the need to count the seeds to obtain a sample for analysis makes it difficult to apply this test to small seeds, such as forage grasses. The objective of this study was to establish a practical methodology for testing the electrical conductivity of Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) Stapf ‘Marandu’ seeds and to estimate its effect on seedling emergence in the field. The water content, germination, first germination count, first emergency count, percentage, and rate of seedling emergence speed in the laboratory, seedling emergence in the field, and electrical conductivity of eight batches of seeds was analyzed. In the last test, the periods of conditioning (2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours) and the volumes (50 and 75 mL) of distilled water used were evaluated and a new sampling methodology based on the seed volumes, obtained with the aid of a 1.5 ml plastic tube (Eppendorf), was developed. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications. The electrical conductivity test using volume sampling from seeds immersed in 75 mL of water and readings taken after 2 or 4 hours was the most efficient method for evaluating the vigor of marandu grass seed batches and provided information equivalent to seedling emergence in the field.
Highlights
IntroductionThe physiological quality of the commercial seed batches of forage grasses is characterized by the germination test (BRASIL, 2008)
Brachiaria brizantha ‘Marandú’ is the most widely cultivated commercial forage in Brazil; more than 60% of the cultivated pastures grow this plant and it representing90% of the volume of fodder seeds traded in the country (BISCOLA; PEREIRA; COSTA, 2013; VERZIGNASSI et al, 2012).The physiological quality of the commercial seed batches of forage grasses is characterized by the germination test (BRASIL, 2008)
The aim of this study was to establish a practical methodology to test the electrical conductivity of Brachiaria brizantha ‘Marandú’ seeds to estimate their vigor, which determines the emergence of seedlings in the field
Summary
The physiological quality of the commercial seed batches of forage grasses is characterized by the germination test (BRASIL, 2008). Because it is conducted under ideal conditions in the laboratory, there are limitations to this test when the objective is to estimate the emergence potential of seedlings in the field, especially under unfavorable environmental conditions (SENA; ALVES; MEDEIROS, 2015). As the degradation of cell membranes constitute one of the initial events in the seed deterioration process, the electrical conductivity test would theoretically be the most sensitive to estimate vigor (MATTHEWS; POWELL, 2006). This test is based on the determination of the amount of leachate in the seed imbibition solution, with the highest values corresponding to higher release of exudates and lower vigor (ARAUJO et al, 2011; STEINER et al, 2011)
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