Physiological quality evaluation of cauliflower seeds.

Abstract

Vegetable crops represent an important part of the Brazilian agricultural market to the point that adequate procedures to evaluate seed vigor of these species have become of necessity. Viewing to compare the efficiency of different physiological quality evaluation methods in cauliflower seeds this study was undertaken. Five seed lots of hybrid Sharon were submitted to the following tests: standard germination, electrical conductivity (4x50 seeds; 25 ºC; 75 mL; 2, 8 and 24 h) and accelerated aging with and without a saturated salt solution (4 ºC; 48 and 72 h). Based on the results, it was concluded that the electrical conductivity (4x50 seeds; 75 mL; 24 h; 25 ºC) test showed to be the most efficient in detecting differences between lots. On the other hand, the accelerated aging test was not found to be an efficient tool to evaluate seed vigor.Additional keywords: Brassica oleracea L.; vigor; germination.