Abstract

HERNANDEZ FLORES, Edgar et al. Accelerated aging and vigor of Brachiaria brizantha cv Insurgente grass seeds. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.3, pp.705-711. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v8i3.43.

With the objective of evaluating seed vigor tests of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Insurgente, two seeds lots with different initial physical and physiological quality, harvested on September 28th (lot 1, autumn) and December 21th (lot 2, winter) of the same year, were subjected to six temperatures (40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 °C) and seven aging periods (24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96 h) at 100% HR. A completely randomized design was used, with factorial arrangement and four replications. Seed vigor varied between temperatures (p< 0.001). The Autumn harvest (lot 1) showed a higher germination value (28.9%) at 40 ºC; similar value (p> 0.05), at 41 ºC (24.7%); but different and superior to the other levels (p< 0.05). For the seeds harvested in winter (lot 2), the highest germination value (50%) was obtained at 40 °C. The aging period had an effect on seeds vigor (p< 0.001). For the autumn seeds, the highest germination value (40.6%) was obtained at 48 h, similar value (p> 0.05) to that obtained at 36 h (34.7%), but different and superior to the other periods; while for lot 2 (winter harvest), the highest value (63%) was obtained at 60 h. The interaction was significant between lots (p< 0.001); in lot 1, the highest germination occurred at 40 ºC/48 h and 40 ºC/60 h, with values of 46 and 47%, respectively; while for lot 2 (winter harvest), the highest value (69.2%) was obtained at 40 °C/60 h. The accelerated aging test detected differences between seeds lots of B. brizantha cv Insurgente and the combination 40 ºC/48 h and 40 ºC/60 h were the most effective treatments to evaluate the vigor between seed lots. Seeds harvested in winter showed greater vigor and consistent germination.

Keywords : Brachiaria brizantha; accelerated aging test; germination; insurgent grass; vigor.