POTENCIAL FISIOLÓGICO E ADEQUAÇÃO DE METODOLOGIAS PARA TESTES DE VIGOR EM SEMENTES DE GRÃO-DE-BICO (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Chickpeas are one of the most important legumes grown in the world. Research related to seed production is the basis to enable the development of the cultivation of the species. In this context, the germination test, evaluates the formation of normal seedlings in ideal conditions, therefore, it must be associated with vigor tests, which reflect the potential for fast and uniform seed germination, even in adverse field conditions. Among the vigor tests used, accelerated aging and electrical conductivity are common, as well as the study of the water absorption curve by the seeds. This work aimed to carry out a bibliographic review on chickpea culture; evaluate the process of imbibition by the seeds; adapt an efficient methodology for conducting the electrical conductivity test; and traditional accelerated aging with saturated saline to evaluate the vigor of seeds of this species. The electrical conductivity is determined by the amount of leachate, the higher the values, the less vigor. The most appropriate methodology is the use of 75 seeds, volume of 100 mL of water, during 30 h of soaking. The process of water imbibition by the seeds occurs according to a three-phase pattern. In studies with the species, there was no clear definition between the three phases. However, the Peleg model adjusted to the imbibition data of the analyzed cultivars. Accelerated aging is based on high temperature and humidity, real stress conditions in the field or storage. For chickpeas, the use of saturated saline solution, exposure for 24 h at 45 ºC and evaluation at the first count is recommended. With these results it was possible to establish methodologies for efficient evaluation of the physiological potential of chickpea seeds, since for this species there is little information available, this work provides important and useful pioneer information both for research and for the industry seed production. Even so, there are other efficient and innovative ways, not yet described for the evaluation of the physiological potential in this species, among them the use of images from scanners and radiographs, or even the magnetic resonance of seeds analysis.