Adequação do teste de envelhecimento acelerado para avaliação do vigor de sementes de leucena

Abstract

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. (Fabaceae) is an arboreal species suitable for the composition of agroforestry systems and animal feeding in semiarid climates. Given its importance, the aim of this study was to adapt the methodology of the accelerated aging test to evaluate the vigor of L. leucocephala seeds. To this end, they proceeded to implementation of accelerated aging at 41 °C for 0, 48, 72 and 96 h in seed lots, with evaluation of the percentage of post aging germination and simple correlation with the variables germination, first count, speed of germination, electrical conductivity and seedling emergence. After 48 h of aging was no difference found on the percentage of germination of the lots, and only the 96 h exposure period showed a significant correlation with the seedling emergence test. The accelerated aging test conducted at 41 °C for 96 h is effective to differentiate lots of L. leucocephala seeds in vigor levels.