Germinação e incidência de fungos em testes com sementes de Brachiaria brizantha Stapf.

The present research was carried out to evaluate the effects of sulphuric acid scarification and fungicide (thiabendazol, captan, thiram and iprodione + thiram) applications on germination tests of B. brizantha and on mycroflora development associated with those tests. In germination tests mycroflora were identified and evaluated on the 10th and the 21st day; at the same time blotter tests were carried out to study the microflora. Interpretations of the results showed that sulphuric acid scarification did not increase significantly the germination but checked fungi development and showed less efficiency than fungicides. Among these the mixture of iprodione and thiram provided the best results. The following fungi were identified: Alternaria tenuis, Aspergülus spp., Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., Drechslera spp., Epicoccum sp., Fusarium sp., Neurospora monilia, Penicillium sp., Phoma sp., Rhizopus sp., Trichothecium sp. e Trichoconiella padwikii.O presente trabalho teve por objetivo estudar o efeito da escarifícação com ácido sulfúrico e da aplicação de fungicidas (thiabendazol, captan, thiram e iprodione + thiram) nos resultados dos testes de germinação e no desenvolvimento de microrganismos sobre sementes de B. brizantha. Além dos testes de germinação, os quais foram avaliados quanto à incidência de microrganismos aos 10 e 21 dias, conduziram-se testes de sanidade, procurando-se identificar a microflora presente. A análise dos dados e interpretação dos resultados permitiram as seguintes conclusões: a escarificação com o ácido não promoveu acréscimo significativo na germinação, tendo contribuído para a redução do nível de incidência de fungos ao se comparar com a testemunha. Os fungicidas aplicados sobre as sementes escarificadas contribuíram para uma melhor germinação e para a redução na ocorrência de microrganismos, destacando-se a mistura iprodione + thiram. O uso dos fungicidas também facilitou a interpretação dos testes de germinação. Foram encontrados os seguintes fungos: Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus spp., Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., Drechslera sp.p, Epicoccum sp., Fusarium sp., Neurospora monilia, Penicillium sp., Phoma sp., Rhizopus sp., Trichothecium sp. e Trichoconiella padwikii

Potassium leaching test for the evaluation of soybean seed vigour

This work was performed to investigate the possibilities of providing rapid indications on the physiological quality of seeds through the potassium leaching test. Four lots of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) seeds, cultivars IAC-8 and IAC-15 were submitted to germination, first count, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity and seed moisture tests. In addition, studies on potassium leaching were conducted with samples of selected non damaged seeds and with pure seeds. The amount of leached potassium was evaluated in a flame photometer after a 60, 90, 120 and 150 minute imbibition at 30°C. The evaluations after 60, 90 and 120 minutes were suitable for the identification of lots with different levels of vigour, thus proving to be a simple and rapid method for seed vigour evaluation.O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal investigar a possibilidade de se obter indicações rápidas sobre a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de soja através do teste de lixiviação de potássio, cuja eficiência foi avaliada comparativamente as informações fornecidas por outros métodos considerados adequados para a determinação do vigor. Para tanto, utilizou-se quatro lotes de sementes de soja dos cultivares IAC-8 e IAC-15 que foram submetidos aos testes de germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, envelhecimento artificial, condutividade elétrica e determinação do grau de umidade. Além destes foram conduzidos estudos de lixiviação de potássio utilizando-se amostras de sementes não danificadas e de sementes fisicamente puras. A quantidade de potássio lixiviado foi avaliada em fotômetro de chama após 60, 90, 120 e 150 minutos de embebição a 30ºC. As avaliações feitas aos 60, 90 e 120 minutos mostraram-se adequadas para a identificação de lotes com diferentes níveis de vigor, constituindo-se em um método simples e rápido para a avaliação da qualidade fisiológica das sementes

Relationship between fruit maturation stage and physiological quality of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seeds

The physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) has great potential for use in biodiesel production due to the high oil content of its seeds. Production of high quality seeds depends upon the appropriate time of harvest. A field experiment was carried out to monitor the maturation process of physic nut seeds and to establish the ideal harvest time of the seeds based on external fruit color. Fruits were collected at different maturation stages based on the external color: green, yellow-green, yellow, yellow-brown and brown. Seeds were extracted manually and, after natural drying, were submitted to the following tests and determinations: moisture content and dry matter, germination, first count seedling emergence, seedling growth, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, the weight of thousand seeds and oil content. A randomized design was used with four replications. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and, for each test, treatment means were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. Physic nut seeds with high physiological quality are obtained from yellow and yellow-brown fruits. Seeds from green fruits have lower physiological quality, dry matter and oil content than the other maturation stages. The seeds obtained from brown fruits have a high germination potential, but have low vigor in relation to yellow and yellow-brown stages.O pinhão manso (Jatropha curcas L.) tem grande potencial para ser utilizado na produção de biodiesel, pelo elevado teor de óleo de suas sementes. A colheita das sementes em momento adequado é fundamental para se obter sementes de elevada qualidade. Foi conduzido um experimento de campo para monitorar o processo de maturação das sementes de pinhão e estabelecer o ponto ideal para a colheita das sementes com base na coloração dos frutos. Para isso, foram colhidos frutos em diferentes estádios de maturação com base na coloração externa: verde, verde-amarelo, amarelo, amarelo-marrom e marrom. As sementes foram extraídas manualmente e, após secagem natural, foram submetidas aos seguintes testes e determinações: grau de umidade e massa seca, germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, emergência de plântulas, crescimento de plântulas, envelhecimento acelerado, condutividade elétrica, peso de mil sementes e teor de óleo. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e, para cada teste, as médias dos tratamentos foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (p < 0.05). Sementes de pinhão manso de alta qualidade fisiológica são obtidas de frutos amarelos e amarelo-marrons. Sementes obtidas de frutos verdes têm menor conteúdo de massa seca, de óleo e qualidade fisiológica inferior às dos demais estádios de maturação. As sementes obtidas de frutos marrons possuem elevado potencial de germinação, no entanto apresentam menor vigor em relação às dos estádios amarelo e amarelo-marrom

Seed-borne pathogens and electrical conductivity of soybean seeds

Adequate procedures to evaluate seed vigor are important. Regarding the electrical conductivity test (EC), the interference in the test results caused by seed-borne pathogens has not been clarified. This research was carried out to study the influence of Phomopsis sojae (Leh.) and Colletotrichum dematium (Pers. ex Fr.) Grove var. truncata (Schw.) Arx. fungi on EC results. Soybean seeds (Glycine max L.) were inoculated with those fungi using potato, agar and dextrose (PDA) medium with manitol (-1.0 MPa) and incubated for 20 h at 25 °C. The colony diameter, index of mycelial growth, seed water content, occurrence of seed-borne pathogens, physiological potential of the seeds, measured by germination and vigor tests (seed germination index, cold test, accelerated aging and electrical conductivity), and seedling field emergence were determined. The contents of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in the seed and in the soaking solution were also determined. A complete 2 × 4 factorial design with two seed sizes (5.5 and 6.5 mm) and four treatments (control, seeds incubated without fungi, seeds incubated with Phomopsis and seeds incubated with Colletotrichum) were used with eight (5.5 mm large seeds) and six (6.5 mm large seeds) replications. All seeds submitted to PDA medium had their germination reduced in comparison to the control seeds. This reduction was also observed when seed vigor and leached ions were considered. The presence of Phomopsis sojae fungus in soybean seed samples submitted to the EC test may be the cause of misleading results

Avaliação do vigor de sementes de rúcula pelo teste de lixiviação de potássio

The objective of this study was to evaluate methodologies for the potassium leaching test and to verify its sensitivity for identifying different levels of vigor of arugula seed lots. Five seed lots each of Rucula Cultivada and Rucula Gigante were used. Standard germination, first count of germination, seedling emergence and variations of the potassium leaching test (50 or 100 seeds imbibed in 50 mL or 75 mL in water; at 25 °C and 30 °C; for 0.5 h, 1 h, 1.5 h, 2 h, 2.5 h, 3, 4 and 5 hours) were done. It was observed that the period seeds need to be soaked can be reduced to 2 hours and the water volume can be reduced to 50 mL. The utilization of 50 seeds showed a smaller variation coefficient and the best temperature was 30 °C. It can be concluded that the potassium leaching test for arugula seeds can be run using 50 seeds in 50 mL of water for 2 hours at 30 °C.Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul/UFMS Acesso à Fazenda Campo Bom pela Rodovia MS, C.P: 112-79560-000-Chapadão do Sul/MSUNESP, CEP 15385-000, Ilha Solteira/SPUNESP, CEP 15385-000, Ilha Solteira/S

Exudate coloring test suitability for assessing the viability of coffee seeds ( Coffea arabica L.)

Abstract: The exudate coloring test has been promising in order to quickly evaluate the quality of coffee seeds. The objective of the research was to adjust the coloring exudate test for coffee seeds and to evaluate the influence of the water content of seeds and of the imbibition period on the test results. Seeds from five lots of 'Catuaí 44' were used, with the following water contents: 30%, 20% and 12%. For the exudate coloring test, the parchment and silver skin (spermoderm) from the seeds were removed. Then, the seeds were distributed on a paper towel, moistened with water, and kept in a germinator at 25 °C for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. Four classes of coloring intensity were established: absence of color (A), light (L), medium (M) and strong (S) intensities, assigning the values 0, 3, 5 and 10 for each class, respectively. The Viability Index (VI) was calculated by the equation VI=100-(0xA)-(3xL)-(5xM)-(10xS). The exudate coloring test may be recommended to estimate the viability of coffee seeds, providing results correlated to the germination test. The best results were obtained for the seeds with 12% moisture content imbibed for 72, 96 and 120 h and seeds with 30% moisture content after 72 and 120 h of imbibition