Seed Quality Evaluation of Senegalia polyphylla (DC.) Britton & Rose

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of Senegalia polyphylla seeds from different trees by X-ray (XR) and electric conductivity (EC) tests. Seeds from three different trees were used. The seeds were classified through radiography in: full, malformed, with small damage and empty, and were used in the germination test. For the EC test, the best volume of water (50 and 75 mL) was initially tested at 25 °C, and subsequently, the different soaking times (12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours) using the best volume of water. Concomitantly, the germination test was performed. Tree I presented a higher percentage of full seeds in XR, higher percentage of germination and fewer leachates in the EC; tree III, however, was the opposite. The tests showed to be efficient for the quality evaluation of Senegalia polyphylla seeds, differentiating the trees.

Keywords

• x-ray
• electrical conductivity
• forest seeds