The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of processing and storage on the physiological quality of cotton seeds, cultivar ITA 90-2, produced in Campo Verde, during the 2001 and 2002 cropping seasons. The seeds were collected, pitted and delinted with sulfuric acid and were analyzed with regard to their physiological quality at all the stages of the experiment. A completely randomized experimental design was employed and the means were compared by the Scott- Knott's test at 5%. The experiment consisted of 13 treatments and four replications. Based on the results obtained, we can conclude that cotton seeds stored as bales, in the field, for up to 85 days are not subject to an immediate loss in seed quality; mechanical processing does not have an immediate harmful effect on seed vigor and the germination percentage can be maintained within the acceptable standard for seed commercialization (70%) for up to six months after harvesting.
Gossypium hirsutum; delinting; germination; vigor
