The present study aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of cowpea seeds from the cultivars Sempre verde, Setentão, Patativa, Pingo de ouro, Aparecido and Epace-10 collected in four different regions of the State of Ceará. The seeds were produced in Quixadá, Pentecoste, Limoeiro do Norte and Morada Nova Counties during 2004. The seeds were tested for germination, first germination counting, seedling emergence, emergence speed index, and electric conductivity. The physiological quality of the seeds produced in Pentecoste and Limoeiro do Norte counties was better than the physiological quality of those produced in Quixadá and Morada Nova, for the majority of the cultivars tested. The seeds of the cultivars Sempre Verde, Setentão, Pingo de Ouro and Aparecido showed superior performance, the cultivar Epace-10 showed intermediary performance and the cultivar Patativa showed inferior performance.
Vigna unguiculata; germination; vigour; cultivars
