Cauliflower seeds physiological potential and plant field performance

Abstract

This research studied the relationship of cauliflower seed physiological potential and plant field performance. Two experiments in subsequent years were conducted with six lots of cauliflower seeds, cultivar Sharon. Physiological potential was evaluated by germination (speed and percentage), seedling emergence, controlled deterioration, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity and potassium leachate tests. Comprised seedling and plant performance were evaluated by height, leaf number and dry weight, where as plant production was expressed by head diameter and yield; second experiment also included determination of replant percentage. Completely randomized design was utilized to laboratory tests and randomized block design for greenhouse and field tests with four replications each. Accelerated aging or controlled deterioration tests are indicated in combination with electrical conductivity or potassium leachate tests to identify the best performance cauliflower seed lots. Seed vigor level influenced plant initial growth, under large differences among seed lot physiological potential, but this effect did not persist over time aud and did not affect yield.