This study was conducted in order to characterize and classify the physical, physiological and sanitary qualities of irrigated rice seeds used by rice farmers in Santa Maria (RS). A total of 117 seed samples were collected among farmers of this region during the 1997/98 growing season. Seed moisture, presense of red rice seeds, presense of fungy and nematodes, germination percentage and seed vigor were determined. In regard to physyological and sanitary quality the seed qualities varied between medium and good. However the presense of high levels of red rice seeds reduced the overall quality of the seeds and is the main factor that limits higher productivity grains.
red rice; physiologycal quality; sanitary quality
