Resumo

MARIN SANCHEZ, José et al. Osmotic conditioning of husk tomato seeds. Agric. Téc. Méx [online]. 2007, vol.33, n.2, pp.115-123. ISSN 0568-2517.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of osmopriming on the physiological quality of husk tomato seeds. The experiment was carried out at the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Colegio de Postgraduados at Montecillo, State of Mexico, Mexico, during September 2004 to May 2005. Husk tomato seeds of cv. Rendidora were osmoprimed with KNO₃, polyethylene glycol 8000 and KCl as osmotic agents, at -5, -10, -15 and -20 atm during 48, 72 and 96 h. After primed, the seeds were stored during 0, 7, 90 and 180 days in order to evaluate the persistence of the osmopriming treatments. Seed physiological quality was evaluated by determining the percentage of germination, abnormal seedlings, latent seeds, death seeds, time to reach 50% germination and seedling dry weight. The osmopriming effects depended on the osmotic agent, the osmotic pressure and the duration of the treatment. Seed storage after osmopriming increased germination and reduced the percentage of latent seeds. Osmopriming with KCl at -15 atm during 48 h or with KNO₃ at -20 atm during 48 h improved the physiological quality of husk tomato seeds cv. Rendidora, improvement that persisted up to 180 days after treatment.

Palavras-chave : Physalis ixocarpa Brot.; germination; invigoration; osmopriming.