The objective of this research was to study the electrical conductivity test to evaluate the physiological quality of Albizia hassleri (Chod) Burkart. seeds. Sixteen mother tree plants were used and the conductivity test was performed at 25 ºC with the use of 75 mL of distilled water in periods of 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours, with five replications of 20 seeds. The germination test was carried out at 25 ºC, and the final count was made on the 19th day. A completely randomized experimental design was used and the data were submitted to the variance analysis and the Scott-Knott test at 5% of probability to compare the mother tree means. Besides, correlations were performed between the electrical conductivity results and the germination percentage and normal seedlings and also the regression between both variables. A high variability was verified among the mother trees, both in the germination and in the electrical conductivity test. The results showed low correlation between the germination percentage and electrical conductivity. The regression between the electrical conductivity and germination presented a low determination coefficient. These data demonstrated that the electrical conductivity test was not adequate to discriminate the physiological seed quality of A. hasslerii obtained from different mother trees.
Vigor; deterioration; tree seeds quality
