PHYSICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF SAVED COWPEA SEEDS USED IN THE BRAZILIAN SEMI-ARID REGION

Authors

  • Fernando Henrique Alves da Silva Agricultural Sciences Center, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7752-1881
  • Salvador Barros Torres Agricultural Sciences Center, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0668-3327
  • Sara Monaliza Costa Carvalho Agricultural Sciences Center, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8556-3862
  • Manuela Bai Faculty of Agriculture /rural development, Universidade São Tomás de Moçambique, Maputo, Mozambique http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8437-3968
  • Welder de Araújo Rangel Lopes Agricultural Sciences Center, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9380-6710

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252019v32n112rc

Keywords:

Vigna unguiculata. Physical quality. Certified seed. Physiological potential.

Abstract

This study evaluated the physical and physiological attributes of saved cowpea seeds (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) used in the Brazilian semi-arid area and compared them with certified seed varieties. The study tested 37 saved seed samples from the state of Rio Grande do Norte and two varieties of certified seeds (“BRS Guariba” and “BRS Pujante”) from the production field of Embrapa Products and Market, Petrolina, PE, Brazil. The seeds were tested for moisture, hectoliter weight, weight of 1,000 seeds, and physical purity to evaluate the physical quality. Germination, first germination count, field emergence, emergence rate index, shoot dry mass, and accelerated aging were tested for physiological quality. The saved cowpea seeds showed great differences, suggesting the influence of genetic variability and different growing environments. The use of saved cowpea seeds by small farmers in the semi-arid areas of Northeastern Brazil is impractical, because these seeds have inferior physical and physiological qualities compared to certified cowpea seeds.

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Published

27-03-2019

Issue

Section

Agronomy