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Performance of bare and pelleted lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds exposed to hydric and thermal stresses

Lettuce is the most important leafy vegetable in Brazil. Its planting is made by seeds, which are small, making their handling difficult. Moreover lettuce seeds present low germination when submitted to unfavorable moisture and temperature conditions. The objective of this work was to study the physiological performance of bare and pelleted lettuce seeds, cv. Karla, under different hydric and temperature potentials. Both kinds of seeds were placed to germinate on filter paper wetted with solutions of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000), with the following levels of water potential: zero, -0.3, -0.6 and -0.9MPa. Seeds from each water potential treatment were placed to germinate under four temperatures: 20, 25, 30 and 35°C. The physiological quality of the seeds was evaluated by germination test, first counting and speed of germination index. It was concluded that water potentials lower than or equal to -0.3MPa, and temperatures equal to or greater than 25°C caused a reduction in the speed and percentage of germination of lettuce seeds. The water potential of -0.9MPa and/or the temperature of 35°C inhibited seed germination of bare and pelleted seeds. Bare seeds had larger reduction in physiological quality than pelleted seeds when exposed to hydric and thermal stress.

germination; water potential; temperature; physiological quality


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