Pea production in Brazil uses seeds produced in the country. The objective of this study was to examine the efficiency of the accelerated aging test for vigor evaluation of pea seeds. Five seed lots of cultivar Axé (wrinkled seeds) and five seed lots of cultivar Mikado (smooth seeds) were used. The initial quality of each seed lot was evaluated by germination test, first counting, and seedling emergence in the field. Seed moisture content was also assessed. The accelerated aging test was set at 41ºC for periods of 24; 48; and 72 hours, with and without saturated NaCl solution. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design. The accelerated aging test was efficient for vigor evaluation of pea seeds, and the period of 48 hours at 41ºC, using saturated NaCl solution was the most adequate procedure to indicate vigor levels of pea seeds. However, the seed germination after this period was very low when compared to 24 hour-period (80%) for both cultivars, even in higher vigor seed lots (35% for Axé and 38% for Mikado). In the saturated NaCl solution, the period of 48 hours at 41ºC was the most adequate for separate seeds through vigor levels. In these conditions, seed lots of highest vigor showed germination of 68% and 79% for Axé and Mikado, respectively. Results of the germination test, first counting, and seedling emergence were not effective in discriminating physiological seed quality when used individually. Nevertheless, when results from these tests were used all together, it was possible to identify the best seed lots.
Pisum sativum; vigor; physiological quality; saline solution; germination
