The objective of this study was to determine the effect of accelerated aging and presence of light on the physiological quality of arrowleaf sida (Sida rhombifolia L.) seeds. Four accelerated aging times (0, 24, 48 and 72 hours), as well as the presence or absence of light during germination test, were evaluated by using a randomized block design, with a 4 x 2 factorial scheme and three replications. Seeds were germinated in germination boxes (Gerbox) lined with paper, at 25ºC. The variables analyzed were: germination percentage, germination speed index (GSI), average germination time (AGT), average germination speed (AGS) and entropy. Evaluations were made 63 days after installation of the test. Absence of light favored germination and GSI. Both AGT and entropy diminished as accelerated aging time increased, but were not influenced by light. Germination and AGT diminished under longer accelerated aging periods in the presence of light. It was possible to conclude that accelerated aging of arrowleaf sida seeds up to 72 hours increased the physiological quality of seeds germinated in darkness.
Sida rhombifolia; germination; plant physiology; vigor
