Tetrazolium test to evaluate physiological quality of Brazilian Guava seeds (Acca sellowiana O. Berg Burret)

Brazilian guava, native fruit tree from Southern Brazil, has become relevant due to its potencial use as ecological and comercial. This article aims evaluate the physiological quality of Brazilian guava seeds by tetrazolium test. The work was divided in two parts. In the first, both lots were submitted to the germination test, index of speed germination, mean time of germination, emergency of seedlings in greenhouse, mean time of emergency and shoot length of seedlings. In the second part it was performed the tetrazolium test. Two concentrations of tetrazolium were used (0,5 e 1,0) and two times of imbibition (2 h e 4 h). To the lot 2007, the treatment 0,5 TZ 4 h obtained 73% of viable seeds, otherwise, to the lot 2008, the was no significant differences among treatments. For the germination test there has been positive correlation for 0,5 TZ 2 h and 1 TZ 2 h treatments. Emergency of seedlings in greenhouse was correlated only to 0,5 TZ 2 h. The Tetrazolium Test has allowed to rank the lots in four classes of viability, confirming the eficiency of the test to evaluate the viability of Brazilian Guava seeds.

feijoa; native Brazilian Guava; viability; germination