The physiological quality of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg.) seeds with different water content placed in a cold chamber room and environmental conditions

Abstract

Seed quality is extremely important for the crop production system, and storage conditions are important to preserve this quality. The objective this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of yellow passion fruit seeds with different water contents placed in a cold chamber room (4°C) and in a natural laboratory environment (25 ± 2°C) for a period of eight months (240 days). Passion fruit seeds were harvested in orchards of the southern region of Espírito Santo, with water content adjusted to 10%; 14%; 18% and 22%, and placed in a cold chamber room and a natural laboratory environment. Germination, germination speed index, shoot and root length, fresh and dry mass of normal seedlings were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two environments (cold chamber room and natural laboratory environment) and with a plot experimental arrangement subdivided according to time, with four replicates of 25 seeds within each environment. Yellow passion fruit seeds placed in a cold chamber room and natural environment with 14% of water content presented a higher physiological quality during eight months of storage. Yellow passion fruit seeds placed in a cold chamber room and natural environment presented maximum germination and vigour with 60 days of storage. Yellow passion fruit seeds exhibit orthodox behaviour, and should be stored at 14% of water content, in a cold chamber room and natural environment, without loss of viability and physiological quality over eight months, presenting maximum germination and vigour after 60 days storage, without the presence of pathogens.