Qualidade fisiológica e qualidade sanitária de sementes de cucurbitáceas

Abstract

Among vegetables crops species belonging Cucurbitaceae family such as melon, watermelon, cucumber and pumpkins stand out from amount produced and consumed around the world, most of cucurbitaceaes species with economic importance are grown for consumption of their fruits and propagated by seeds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the physiological performance and healthy quality of watermelon, pumpkin and cucumber seeds identifying the more appropriate method to evaluate physiological performance of these species. In order to evaluate the physiological performance of watermalon and pumpkin seeds were used the tests: standard germination test, first count of germination, accelerated ageing test, electrical conductivity, emergence speed index and seedlings emergence. The physiological performance of cucumber seeds was evaluated by standard germination test, first count of gemination, controlled deterioration, eletrical conductivity, seedlings emergence, speed emergence index, accelerated ageing test and accelerated ageing test using NaCl solution for 48, 72 and 96 hours. Healthy quality of seeds was evaluated by blotter test. Electrical conductivity test and first count of germination were effectives in detecting vigor differences between vigor of watermelon seed lots. Speed emergence index and electrical conductivity rated pumpkink seeds lots similarly to seedling emergence test. The cucumber seeds lots were ranked similarly to seedling emergence test by controlled deterioration, first count of germination e electrical conductivity tests. Electrical conductivity with 50 seeds and 75 mL of water at 25 ºC for 24 hours allow the watermelon, pumpkin and cucumber seeds lots physiolocal performance evaluation. Emergence speed index is effective to rank pumpkin seeds lots in vigor levels. Controlled deterioration test 20% seeds moisture, 40 °C for 48 hours is effective to detect vigor defferences between cucumber seeds lots.