Abstract
Thiamethoxam is a neonicotinoid insecticide, which is believed to induce the expression of enzymes and proteins that activate plant defense mechanisms, thus improving the plant resistance to stress factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological performance of melon and watermelon seeds treated with thiamethoxam. The seed treatment consisted of five doses of thiamethoxam, 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mL per kilogram of seeds. The parameters evaluated were measured by a standard germination test, first count of germination test, laboratory vigor tests (accelerated aging and cold tests), and a field vigor test (seedling emergence). Thiamethoxam treatment resulted in increase in the normal seedling percentage in the standard germination, first count of germination, accelerated aging, cold and final seedling emergence tests. The doses of 4.0 to 5.0 mL of thiamethoxam per kilogram of seeds were most efficient in improving the physiological performance of melon and watermelon seeds. Key words: Thiamethoxam, seedling vigor, Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus.
Highlights
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae and is thought to have originated from Southern Africa (Paris, 2015)
The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological performance of melon and watermelon seeds treated with thiamethoxam
The doses of 4.0 to 5.0 mL of thiamethoxam per kilogram of seeds were most efficient in improving the physiological performance of melon and watermelon seeds
Summary
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae and is thought to have originated from Southern Africa (Paris, 2015). The total world production of watermelon is about 110 million tonnes on approximately 3.5 million ha. The main producers at the global level are China (about 70 million tonnes), Turkey (3.8 million tonnes on 157,585 ha), Iran (3.75 million tonnes on 146,630 ha), Brazil (about 2.1 million tonnes on 92,000 ha) and the U.S.A. (about 1.8 million tonnes on 49,910 ha) (FAOSTAT, 2016). The production levels for the five top producers are estimated to be 15 million tonnes in China (423,000 ha harvest area), 1.67 million tonnes in Turkey (100,578 ha harvest area), 1.4 million in Iran (80,211 ha harvest area), 1.03 million tonnes in Egypt (39,683 ha harvest area) and 990,890 tonnes in the U.S.A. The production levels for the five top producers are estimated to be 15 million tonnes in China (423,000 ha harvest area), 1.67 million tonnes in Turkey (100,578 ha harvest area), 1.4 million in Iran (80,211 ha harvest area), 1.03 million tonnes in Egypt (39,683 ha harvest area) and 990,890 tonnes in the U.S.A. (33,508 ha harvest area) (FAOSTAT, 2016)
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