Teste de tetrazólio para avaliação da qualidade de sementes de Clitorea ternatea L.

Abstract

This research verified different methods of pre-conditioning and concentrations of tetrazolium solutions for quality evaluation of Butterfly pea seed. Seeds collected in Seropédica county (RJ) e Fortaleza county (CE) were submitted to the following methods of pre-conditioning: a) scarification with sandpaper and immersion in water at 25°C for 14 hours; and b) immersion in water at 95°C and left in the same water to rest without heating for 24 hours at 25°C. The teguments of the seeds were removed and the seeds were immerged in 0,1; 0,3 e 1% tetrazolium solution during 2 hours and 30 minutes at 25°C. To verify the reliability of the results through the tetrazolium test, germination test, first counting and index of germination velocity were done. Scarification with sadpaper and immersion in water at 25°C for 14 hours were the most efficient in pre-conditioning Butterfly pea seeds and 0,3% tetrazolium solution for 2 hours and 30 minutes at 25°C allow evaluating seeds of this species.