Germination of parsley seeds influenced by mericarps color and internal morphology

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to establish a relationship between mericarps color and internal morphology of parsley with the germination, using sorting by coloration and the X-ray test. The completely randomized design was used, with four replications per treatment. The treatments were constituted of four lots (A, B, C and D) and three mericarps colors (green, yellow and black) in 4×3 factorial experiment. The mericarps were exposed to X-ray test (60s; 20kV), being used the digital equipment Faxitron X-ray, model MX-20 DC12 and then, the irradiated mericarps were submitted to the germination test. The yellow mericarps showed higher germination and speed germination index. The green mericarps showed deformations and impaired formation of embryo, while black and yellow mericarps showed up without deformation and with a well-formed embryo. We concluded that there is a relationship between parsley seed germination and mericarps color. Poorly formed embryos and misshapened seed coats are related to green mericarps.