Quality of buffelgrass seeds from different harvests.

SILVA, J. C. da; SILVA, J. de J.; GOMES, R. A.; DANTAS, B. F.

Quality of buffelgrass seeds from different harvests.

Autores

Descripción

Obtaining high-quality seeds depends largely on the timing of harvesting, which should preferably occur when the seeds have completed the physiological maturation process. Premature harvesting of seeds increases the amount of immature seeds in the lot. The objective of this study was to evaluate seed lots of two buffelgrass cultivars, harvested on different days. The seeds were soaked in distilled water or potassium nitrate solution to break dormancy and then divided into three lots of each cultivar to evaluate their physiological quality. We used a completely randomized experimental design to analyze the freshly harvested seeds in a 6 x 2 factorial arrangement for moisture content, germination percentage and vigor. We applied generalized linear models (GLM) to choose the best fit, followed by analysis of significant differences and comparison of means according to Tukey's test. The moisture content of buffelgrass seeds ranged from 3.0% to 9.2%. All seed lots of the cultivar CPATSA 7754, except for the accession 7754_24_05, showed better germination when treated with water than with 0.2% KNO₃ solution, as the latter was less effective in overcoming dormancy. Seeds of the cultivar Áridus harvested with low moisture content showed the best germination performance.