Size, imbibition, and viability of seeds of two creole melon (Cucumis melo L.) from the state of Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To determine the physical and physiological characteristics of Creole melon seeds from the Costa Chica ofGuerrero.Design/Methodology/Approach: It was established under a completely randomized design, and Student’s t-tests (a=0.05) and correlation with Pearson’s test were performed. Viability and imbibition were carried out using the methodologies described by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).Results: Creole seeds of the two varieties presented a significant statistical difference (95% confidence level) in the physical quality variables. The imbibition ended at 18 and 32 h in V2 and V1, respectively, after being submerged in water. The humidity percentage was higher in V1 (7.19); while, V2 presented a higher percentage of germination and viability (96 and 90%, respectively). There is a positive association between the humidity and the physical dimensions of the seed and the germination and viability (r2=0.954) that is highly significant (P=0.003).Study Limitations/Implications: Morphological and taxonomic classification studies of the Creole genotypes of the Costa Chica region of Guerrero are required.Findings/Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between the physical and physiological quality of the Creole melon seeds.