Improving the method for determining the physiological and sanitary potential of Gherkin seeds

Gherkin seeds usually show irregular physiological quality. Seed production requires fast and reliable tests to evaluate seed quality. Germination test is considered a recognized analysis method; however, seed technology has pursuit the improvement of vigor tests aiming the evaluation of seed's physiological potential. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate procedures to perform the test of accelerated aging and determine the physiological and sanitary potential of gherkin seeds. Four seed lots of cultivar Liso Calcuta were used in the study. To evaluate the initial physiological quality the water content was determined and germination and emergence tests, as well as indices of germination speed and emergence speed were used. The accelerated aging test was performed as traditionally and with saturated saline solution, with 48, 72 and 96 hours, at temperatures of 41oC and 45oC. After aging, the water content was determined, and seeds' germination and sanity tests were performed. The experiment was set under a completely random design in factorial 4x3x2 (lots x aging periods x temperatures). The standard accelerated aging test and the test with saturated saline solution at 41oC for 96 hours were efficient to evaluate the vigor of gherkin seeds. Saturated saline solution provides uniform water absorption and deterioration in gherkin seeds, allowing to discriminate seed lots in different vigor levels. The salinity test after accelerated aging with saline solution reduces the incidence of some fungi.

Incidência e viabilidade de sementes crioulas de milho naturalmente infestadas com fungos em pré e pós-armazenamento / Incidence and viability of creole seeds of corn naturally infested with fungi in pre-and post-storage

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a qualidade sanitária e fisiológica de quatorze variedades de sementes de milho crioulas em pré e pós-armazenamento em embalagens de polietileno tereftalato (PET). Houve efeito das variedades e das épocas de avaliações sobre a incidência de fungos e germinação. Dentre a micobiota observada, Fusarium moniliforme (88%), Penicillium spp. (6,9%) e Aspergillus spp. (2,1%) tiveram a maior porcentagem de incidência. Após o armazenamento, houve decréscimo de F. moniliforme (69%) e aumento de Penicillium spp. (35%) e Aspergillus spp. (22%). A incidência desses fungos não comprometeu a qualidade fisiológica das sementes, que apresentaram elevadas porcentagens de vigor e germinação.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sanitary and physiological quality of fourteen varieties of creole corn seeds in pre-and post-storage in packaging of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Among the mycobiota observed Fusarium moniliforme (88%), Penicillium spp. (6,9%) and Aspergillus spp. (2,1%) had the highest incidence. After storage there was a slight decrease in the percentage of F. moniliforme (69%) and a increase of Penicillium spp. (35%) and Aspergillus spp. (22%). The incidence of these fungi did not compromise the physiological quality of seeds that showed high percentages of vigor and germination.

Qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de milho crioulo produzidas no norte de Minas Gerais / Physical, physiological and seed health qualities of maize landrace seeds produced on northern Minas Gerais, Brazil

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar a qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de 17 variedades de milho crioulo antes e após armazenagem em garrafas PET e comparar os resultados aos padrões já estabelecidos para comercialização de cultivares comerciais de milho. Foram realizados os testes de pureza física, retenção de peneiras, massa de 1000 sementes, grau de umidade, germinação, emergência em canteiro, índices de velocidade de germinação e emergência das sementes, além de exame de sementes infestadas. Pelos resultados obtidos, é possível concluir que as sementes de milho crioulo das diferentes variedades apresentam alta porcentagem de pureza física e germinação mesmo após o armazenamento, com valores acima dos padrões mínimos exigidos para comercialização de sementes de milho (98 e 85 por cento, respectivamente). O grau de umidade das sementes das diferentes variedades de milho crioulo antes e após o armazenamento permaneceu abaixo de 13 por cento, destacando-se a aptidão da região norte de Minas Gerais para a produção e conservação de sementes de qualidade. Três variedades apresentaram porcentagem de infestação superior ao padrão máximo recomendado (3 por cento), sendo, portanto, necessário aprimorar o controle de pragas de grãos armazenados. São necessárias melhorias para uniformização de classificação das sementes por peneiras, já que as amostras de três variedades não alcançaram o padrão mínimo de 94 por cento em uma mesma peneira, exigido pela legislação.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the physical, physiological and sanitary quality of corn seeds of 17 maize varieties (landraces) before and after storage in PET bottles. The seeds were submitted to the following tests: physical purity, retention on sieves, weight of 1000 seeds, germination, seed moisture content, emergence in flowerbed, infested seed exam and seed health (deep-freezing method). Germination and emergence velocity index were determined. Maize landraces seeds of different varieties presented a great percentage of physical purity and germination, which were over the minimum standards values required for commercialization of corn seeds (98 and 85 percent, respectively), even after storage. Seed moisture content remained below 13 percent before and after storage, standing out the potential of Nothern Minas Gerais for production and conservation of high-quality seeds. Three varieties presented infestation higher than the maximum values accepted for corn seeds commercialization (3 percent), indicating the need of better pests control during storage. Samples of three varieties have not reached satisfy standard values of retention on the same sieve (94 percent), indicating the need of better standardization on size classification of some seed lots.

Qualidade sanitária de sementes de coquinho-azedo (Butia capitata) no Norte de Minas Gerais / Health quality of Butia capitata seeds in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil

O coquinho-azedo (Butia capitata Mart. Becc.) é uma palmeira nativa dos cerrados brasileiros e seus frutos são fonte de alimento para seres humanos e animais. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram identificar e quantificar os microorganismos nas sementes dessa espécie, utilizando análises "blotter test" e meio Batata-dextrose-ágar (BDA). Amostras foram colhidas em Abóboras, distrito de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais (MG) e, em um esquema fatorial 2 x 2, as sementes com e sem endocarpo foram analisadas pelo "blotter test" e BDA, empregando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualisado, com 10 repetições. Essas sementes apresentaram microflora diversificada e a retirada do endocarpo não interferiu na análise microbiológica do coquinho-azedo. Mais espécies de microorganismos foram recuperadas na análise no meio BDA, com predominância de fungos Fusarium spp. e Penicillium spp., independentemente da análise. Portanto, a maior parte da microflora identificada nesse trabalho foi fúngica e o melhor teste foi o crescimento em BDA.

Coquinho-azedo (Butia capitata Mart. Becc.) is a Brazilian Cerrado native palm tree. Its fruit is used as food to human and animals. This record aim was to identify the microorganisms in the seeds of this species, using the "blotter test" and potato-dextrose-agar (PDA) medium. Samples were collected in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais State. In a factorial scheme 2 x 2, seeds with or without endocarp, were analysed by blotter test" and BDA, using a randomly designed with ten replications. These seeds presented a diversified microorganism population and endocarp removing did not interfere in coquinho-azedo microbiological analysis. Greater numbers of microorganism species were recovered in PDA medium, and mostly were Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. This study concluded that predominantly B. capitata microorganism population was fungus and PDA was better medium.