QUALITY EVALUATION OF Sesbania virgata Poir, FABACEAE, SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS

Abstract

The seeds of native forest species are responsible for their maintenance and perpetuation in the nature, either for the natural germination or programs of seedlings production envisaging reforestation. The use of fast tests to evaluate the quality of the seeds and to supply necessary information to the producer is very important. The quality of the seeds is a sum up of a series of aspects. The study was carried out to determine the quality of seeds and seedlings of Sesbania virgata Poir, originating from Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná states. The evaluation of the quality of the seeds was done using germination, vigor and health tests. Seedlings quality was carried out in greenhouse tests. The study showed that the presence of pathogens in the seeds of the different origins, affected seedling quality, reducing the establishment of the plants in the field. It was possible to verify differences in the vigor levels and its high correlation with emergency of plants in the greenhouse. Independent of the State of origin, Sesbania virgata seeds presented variations in the physiological and sanitary quality.