The mogango (Cucurbita pepo) is multiplied directly by seeds or indirectly by sowing in trays for subsequent transplanting and the use of highly vigorous seeds is important. Seed germination requires favorable conditions of oxygen, temperature and water availability, but these conditions are not always appropriate, especially in saline soils. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of different salt concentrations in the manifestation of physiological seed quality and expression of isoenzyme systems in mogango seedlings. We evaluated seeds of mogango, cv. Sul Mineiro, subjected to salt concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM in the substrate. The response of seeds to these variations was evaluated by germination (first count and percentage of normal and abnormal seedlings), length of shoot and root system, leaf area index, shoot and root dry matter and isoenzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and esterase) activity. Squash seed performance, cv. Sul Mineiro, was affected under salt stress. In this situation, seedlings activate a defense mechanism with higher expression in the root system.
Cucurbita pepo; salt stress; vigor; enzyme expression