ABSTRACT
Bioregulators are natural or synthetic compounds which have the ability to stimulate root development and improve seed performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of using the plant bioregulator Stimulate® on the physiological quality of rice seeds. The experimental design was completely randomised in a 4 x 5 factorial, consisting of four rice cultivars (IRGA Puitá, IRGA 417, IRGA 421, IRGA 424) and five doses of Stimulate® (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 mL kg-1 seeds), where the following characteristics were evaluated: germination test, first count, abnormal seedlings, cold test, accelerated ageing test, field emergence, emergence speed index, seedling dry weight, primary root length and shoot length. Analysis of variance identified significant effects for the interaction of cultivar and dose for all variables except the cold test and shoot length. The use of the bioregulator resulted in increased germination in those seeds with reduced physiological potential, and an increase in seed vigour in all cultivars. The use of Stimulate® influences the physiological quality of rice seeds. Doses of 3 and 06 mL kg-1 seeds are most recommended for the crop, and provide significant increases in their physiological performance.
Key words:
Stimulate®; Oryza sativa; Vigour
