The objective of this study was to characterize the physiologic potential of common landrace bean seeds. The seeds were produced in the 2007/2008 growing season with 26 genotypes from Lages-SC. The seed physiological potential was evaluated from the percentage germination, before and after accelerated ageing, the weight of 100 seeds, electrical conductivity, the length of the primary root and field emergence. The genotypes were grouped into classes using the Scott-Knott test and compared with a standard (commercial cultivars) using the Dunnett test, which indicated the BAFs 36, 55, 75, 102 genotypes as having a high physiological potential. Under field conditions, most landrace genotypes were adapted to environmental conditions, except for BAFs 4, 7, 23. The correlation analysis showed a positive association between the percentage initial germination and the length of the main root, and a negative correlation with the weight of 100 seeds. The genotypes with a lower seed mass showed more vigor.
diversity; vigor; electrical conductivity; artificial ageing
