Reduction in the period for evaluation of the physiological quality of newly harvested black oat seeds

Abstract

Abstract: Black oat seeds exhibit dormancy when newly harvested, which is normally broken in the interval between harvest and the sowing season. Dormancy, however, becomes a limiting factor in the estimate of the physiological quality of the seeds soon after harvest, requiring the use of methods for breaking dormancy, which delays making decisions in regard to the destination of seed lots. Given this situation, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the possibility of reducing the period for obtaining results in the germination test of newly harvested black oat seeds, studying variations on the recommended methods for breaking dormancy. Five seed lots of newly harvested seeds of cultivar IAPAR 61 (Ibiporã) were used, for which the following determinations were done: moisture content, germination test, and tetrazolium test. The following methods were tested for breaking dormancy: pre-cooling at 5 - 10 ºC for three and five days; and pre-drying at 33 ºC for five and seven days. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that there is the possibility of reducing the period recommended for estimating the germination of newly harvested black oat seeds through the use of pre-drying of the seeds for five days or of pre-cooling for three days.