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Electrical conductivity as vigor test for squash seeds

The electrical conductivity has been recommended or suggested to evaluate seed vigor of pea and other species, although research is still needed to improve procedures. This work to evaluate the physiological potential of squash seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.) using electrical conductivity test. Seeds of the cultivar "Menina Brasileira", represented by four seed lots, in the first phase and by other five, in the second, were used. Results of germination, first count, percentage and speed of seedling emergence and electrical conductivity tests were compared. Conductivity test was performed using two water volumes (50 and 75mL), three temperatures (20, 25 and 30ºC) and eight periods of seed soaking (1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 hours). It was observed that the soaking period of squash seeds can be reduced to 8 hours and that independently of the water volume, seed imbibition at 30ºC promoted the best seed lot ranking according to physiological potential. So, it can be concluded that the electrical conductivity test can be run using 30ºC, 75mL of water and 8h.

Cucurbita pepo; physiological potential; leakage


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