Seed size variation in the palm Euterpe edulis and the effects of seed predators on germination and seedling survival

Intraspecific variation in seed size is common in wild plant populations and has important consequences for the reproductive success of individual plants. Multiple, often conflicting evolutionary forces mediated by biotic as well as abiotic agents may maintain such a variation. In this paper we assessed seed size variation in a population of the threatened, commercially important palm Euterpe edulis in southeast Brazil. We investigated (i) how this variation affects the probability of attack by vertebrate and invertebrate post-dispersal seed predators, and (ii) if seed size influences the outcome of seeds damaged by beetles in terms of seed germination and early survival of seedlings. Euterpe edulis seeds varied in diameter from 8.3 to 14.1 mm. Neither insects nor rodents selected the seeds they preyed upon based on seed size. Seed germination and total, shoot and root biomasses of one-year seedlings were significantly and positively affected by seed size. Root biomass and seedling survival were negatively affected by seed damage caused by a scolytid beetle (Coccotrypes palmarum) whose adults bore into seeds to consume part of the endosperm, but do not oviposit on them. Seed size had a marginally significant effect on seedling survival. Therefore, if any advantage is accrued by E. edulis individuals producing large seeds, this is because of greater seed germination success and seedling vigor. If this is so, even a relatively narrow range of variation in seed size as observed in the E. edulis population studied may translate into differential success of individual plants. (c) 2006 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Temporary storage of jussara palm seeds: effects of time, temperature and pulp on germination and vigor

As sementes da palmeira juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart.) são recalcitrantes, apresentando baixa longevidade e sensibilidade à desidratação e ao armazenamento em temperaturas baixas. Neste trabalho foram estudadas condições de temperatura mais adequadas ao armazenamento temporário destas sementes com e sem a polpa. Frutos maduros foram colhidos em 24 plantas provenientes da coleção de palmeiras do Instituto Agronômico (IAC) localizada em Ubatuba, estado de São Paulo, e encaminhadas, em embalagem impermeável, à Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP, Campus de Botucatu (SP). Metade dos frutos foi despolpada e outra metade foi mantida com polpa, sendo ambas armazenadas em sacos fechados de polietileno (20 µm de espessura) mantidos em temperaturas de 5; 10; 15 e 20-30ºC. Amostras para os testes de qualidade foram retiradas aos 0; 3; 6; 9 e 12 dias após a colheita dos frutos. As sementes armazenadas com polpa foram despolpadas imediatamente antes da instalação dos testes. Foram avaliados o grau de umidade das sementes, porcentagem de germinação, comprimento e matéria seca das plântulas. Os resultados mostraram que há efeito positivo de pós-amadurecimento em sementes de Euterpe edulis. Um período de armazenamento de 9 a 12 dias, após a colheita e antes da semeadura, favoreceu a germinação e o vigor das sementes de juçara. Os efeitos foram maiores para sementes armazenadas sem polpa do que com polpa. Temperaturas na faixa de 5 a 20-30ºC são igualmente adequadas para o armazenamento temporário de sementes sem polpa. No entanto, para sementes com polpa, a temperatura de armazenamento não deve exceder a 20ºC, visto que um decréscimo na germinação e no vigor e um acréscimo no número de botões germinativos apodrecidos e sementes mortas foram observados na temperatura de 20-30ºC.

Metodologia para a avaliação do vigor de sementes de tomate

Os testes de vigor e o teste de germinação são componentes essenciais no controle de qualidade das empresas de produção de sementes. Com o objetivo de verificar a eficiência de diferentes testes de vigor na avaliação da qualidade de sementes de tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), cinco lotes do híbrido Saladinha foram submetidos aos seguintes testes: germinação; primeira contagem de germinação; emissão de raiz (56, 72, 80 e 96 horas após a instalação do teste de germinação); emergência de plântulas (substrato em bandejas de poliestireno); envelhecimento acelerado (1g de sementes mantidas a 41ºC por 48 e 72 horas); envelhecimento acelerado com solução salina saturada (mesmo procedimento do item anterior mas usando solução de NaCl, 40%) e condutividade elétrica (50 sementes em 25 mL de água destilada) em câmara a 25ºC e leituras após 2, 4, 6, 8 e 24 horas. A porcentagem de germinação e os testes de vigor da emissão de raiz primária (após 56 e 72 horas) e de condutividade elétrica apresentaram-se correlacionados com a emergência de plântulas. Porém, somente o teste de condutividade elétrica após 24 horas de embebição mostrou-se eficiente na avaliação do vigor das sementes de tomate, fornecendo informações semelhantes à emergência de plântulas.

Determination of soybean seed respiration rate by the titulation method

This trial was carried out under laboratory conditions, with three lots of Iguacu soybean seeds, to determine the respiration rate by the titulation method. A randomized complete block design was used, with four repetitions, each one of them with 50 seeds and a control without seeds for each lot. The seeds were placed in gerbox with 40 mi of KOH 0.1N, on distilled water wet blotting paper for fixing the CO2 produced by seeds respiration. The material was placed in germinator at constant 25 degrees C for 16, 24 and 48 hours. After these periods, the titulation of the fixative solution was performed with HCl 0.1N to check the respiration rate. The most deteriorated seeds were those that presented the highest respiration rates, which were measured in mg of CO2/g of dry matter, when compared with the most vigorous lots. The titulation method was suitable for the evaluation of soybean seed respiration rate because the final results separated the lots in three different quality levels that were compatible with the results obtained from the accelerated aging and emergence.

Germinação e vigor de sementes de Talisia esculenta (St. Hil) Radlk em função de diferentes períodos de fermentação

The present study had the aim of testing the effect of different fermentation periods on the germination and vigour of pitomba seeds. The experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the Seed Section of the Agrarian Sciences Center of the Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, PB. The fruits were picked directly from maternal trees located in the same municipal district, peeled manually and fermented for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours, in addition to seeds with pulp (without fermentation). The experiment was entirely randomized with four replications of 25 seeds per treatment. After each fermentation period, the seeds were washed in tap water and left in the laboratory environment for 24 hours on paper towels. Water content, germination and vigor (germination velocity index, seedling length and dry mass., relative frequency and medium time of germination) were measured. Less water content was shown in the seeds fermented for 96 hours (38.5%), while the largest germination percentages were observed after 76 hours of fermentation (93%). In relation to vigour, the best values occurred with 86 and 105 hours of fermentation. Fermentation is recommended for up to 105 hours as appropriate to removal of the pitomba seed aril.

Correlation of electrical conductivity and other vigor tests with field emergence of soybean seedlings

Seeds from six soybean cultivars (Cristalina, IAC 31-Foscarin, IAC-15, UFV-10, IAC-14 and IAS-5) and from five soybean cultivars (IAC 31-Foscarin, IAC-15, IAC-14, IAS-5 and Iguacu) were evaluated in 1993 and 1994, respectively, in terms of physiological seed quality by the mechanical damage (MD), standard germination (SG), accelerated aging (AA), electrical conductivity (EC), and seedling field emergence (FE) tests. Significant correlations were detected between SG, AA and EC and FE. However, in terms of the cultivar or the year, the degree of association among these parameters can change based on the environmental conditions of each year.

Phytochrome and light influence on germination and vigor of ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) seeds under high irradiance conditions

Ocimum gratissimum seed germination (% germination and vigor) has been found as phytochrome dependent, having a typical High Irradiant Response (HIR). Seven treatments were tested: daylight (DL), red (R), far-red (FR), blue (B), green (G), dark (DK), and reversible (RVB). No statistical difference among the DL, R, FR, B, and G were found. DK and RVB were statistically equal and presented the lowest results. The germination also occurred in the DK treatment but in non-useful rates, and it was nonreversible in the RVB treatment. It allows these seeds to be classified as positively photoblastic. The minimum energy need to initiate the germination was evaluated by a fluency-response curve. It plotted four different exposition times to R light (1 second, 60 seconds, 1 hour, and 13 hours) against percent germination. Useful germination occurred only after 1 hour, confirming the high energy needed to incite the process. The germination rate increased with the raise of the photoequilibrium (j). The high positive correlation index found confirms the phytochrome influence in this process. Facing all the results presented here, it is suggested to sow these seeds under direct and highly intense sunlight. It is preferable to avoid places exposed to variations in the shading, because inhibition induced by dense shade effects (low R/FR ration and consequently low j established) were demonstrated irreversible, and it can lead to undesirable loss of the germination power.

Testes de vigor para avaliação da qualidade fisiológica de sementesde Sebastiania commersoniana (Baill.) Smith & Downs.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of different vigor tests to assess S. commersoniana seeds physiological quality during storage. Therefore, seeds were stored in cloth bags, plastic bags and glass containers for 531 days, both at room temperature and in a cold chamber. Periodically samples were taken and the following tests were conducted: standard germination, germination speed index, first count after germination, seedlings fresh and dry matter, electrical conductivity (imbibitions for 2 and 24 hours) and accelerated aging, in order to monitoring the seeds physiologic quality. Data were submitted to polynomial regression analysis, for each of the combination of packaging/storage condition. The results obtained led to the following considerations: a) the speed germination index and the accelerated aging test permitted a good evaluation of the seed-lots quality; b) the first count of germination did not allow any prediction about seed lots vigor; c) seedling fresh and dry matter did not discriminate among seed lots; d) electrical conductivity test after 2 h imbibitions was not adequate to evaluate the seed lots vigor and e) the electric conductivity test with 24 h imbibitions was more adequate to differentiate among seed lots, but with little efficiency to discriminate among seed lots with intermediate vigor or with low quality differences.

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.

Germinação e vigor de sementes de crambe sob estresse hídrico

This study aimed to evaluate crambe seeds germination and vigor under water stress conditions induced by polyethylene glycol solutions. The seeds were germinated on substrate moistened with polyethylene glycol solutions, using the osmotic potentials of 0 (control), -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8, -1.0, -1.2 and -1.4 MPa. The seeds germination was evaluated by normal seedlings and root emission percentages. Vigor was evaluated by germination average time, relative frequency, velocity and synchronization index. It was observed that more negative osmotic potential caused significant reduction in crambe seed germination and vigor, and no normal seedlings was observed at potentials below -0.6 MPa.

Structural changes in soybean seed coat due to harvest time and storage

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Eco-physiological aspects of melaleuca seed germination

The invasive behavior of melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia) plants in wetlands is due to its aggressive regeneration strategy, which is based on its seeds germination performance. Understanding of the eco-physiological aspects of the seed germination in melaleuca plants may significantly contribute for the development of management strategies. The objective of this research was to learn how the germination of M. quinquenervia seeds are affected by light and temperature. Melaleuca seeds were placed on filter paper moistened with 12 ml of distilled water at temperatures between 10 and 45°C. Germination was evaluated in dark and light conditions. Seed germination, first count of seed germination (seven days), germination speed index and germination mean time were determined up to 40 days after seeding, when germination had ceased in most of the treatments. After that period, the seeds were transferred to conditions of 30°C and light, which was found to be ideal in the previous phase. Seed germination was daily evaluated up to 63 days when it was again observed no longer to occur. The treatment repetitions were distributed in the growth-chamber according to a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme (eight temperatures x two light conditions) and four repetitions. The data were submitted to analysis of variance with the F test and the means were adjusted to polynomial and non linear regression models. The highest seed germination performance was observed to take place under conditions of 27.3°C with light. The temperatures of 35 and 40°C in the dark induced thermal inhibition of seed germination. The temperature of 45°C was lethal to the seeds.

Genetic diversity among progenies of Crambe abyssinica Hochst for seed traits

Crambe is an important biofuel crop and its oil has unique traits such as high erucic acid content which can be used as industrial lubricant, corrosion inhibitor as well as ingredient in synthetic rubber manufacturing. Genetic diversity among 70 progenies of Crambe abyssinica Hochst selected from a population of FMS Brilhante cultivar was quantified by multivariate analysis for traits related to germination, thousand grain weight and oil content. There were significant differences among progenies for all traits studied. Estimation of genetic variance and heritability coefficients showed that the variability found in the progeny is more genetic than environmental which enables genetic gains with selection. Heritability coefficient varied from 68 to 79%, except for oil content and number of dead seedlings. Simple correlation analysis showed that germination and vigor were positively correlated, and thousand grain weight and oil content were not correlated with any of the seed traits. Based on multivariate analysis, the progenies could be grouped into 26 clusters. Clusters 1, 2 and 3 had the highest number of progeny with 7, 8 and 6 lineages, respectively. Clusters 21-26 had higher dissimilarity within the cluster with one in each progeny. The trait that most contributed to the cluster was the germination (36.2%) and less contributed was the number of seedlings killed (1.1%). The progenies indicate genetic diversity for seed traits and the selection of superior progenies is possible considering the studied traits. © 2013.

Teste de submersão em água para avaliação do vigor de sementes de milho

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Teste de deterioração controlada para avaliação do vigor de sementes de milho (Zea mays L.)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA