Abstract
The seed morphology and the physical modifications undergone by them during germination may be associated with vigor. Therefore, the aim of this work was to monitor the increase of area in Moringa seeds during imbibition, by means of image analysis, in order to determine their physiological quality. Seeds of four Moringa lots with and without tegument, photographed before and during soaking, were used in the periods of 8, 16 and 24 hours, at temperatures of 15 and 20°C. The area increase (%) was calculated by image analysis using the ImageJ program. The results of each evaluated period were compared with the traditional tests of germination and vigor. The design was entirely randomized, with four replicates of 50 seeds per treatment. Data were submitted to ANOVA and compared by the Tukey test. Lots 1, 2 and 4 were considered better quality, while lot 3 presented lower quality when compared to the other lots tested. Moringa seeds followed the three-phase pattern of imbibition, with protrusion of the radicle occurring in 72 hours. It was possible to evaluate the percentage of increment of area through the program ImageJ, being the period of 8 hours of imbibition at 15°C which demonstrated greater efficiency to classify the lots as to their quality.
Keywords:
Quality; Vigor; Forest species
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