Worldwide ecological awareness requires more natural foods and products which has influenced the improvement and utilization of integrated pest management. In this kind of control, alternative methods are used to protect seeds to decrease the use of chemical products. The purpose of this study was investigate the mycoflora and physiological quality of cotton seeds treated with chemical fungicides and aroeira extract (Astronium urundeuva L.). Cooton seeds (Gossypium hirsutum L.), with or without lint, CNPA 7H and Precoce 2 cultivars, were treated, or not, with the chemical fungicides pentacloronitrobenzeno (PCNB), captan, benomyl and tolylfluanid which were applied pure and mixed with the aroeira extract. The physiological quality was evaluated by germination, speed emergence index, field emergence and fungi presence. The statistical design was completely randomized in a factorial 10x2x2 (treatments x cultivars x kinds of seeds) with four replications. Cotton seeds, with or without lint, both cultivars showed lower germination and vigour. Pure "aroeira" extract did not control the fungi, but mixed with the chemical fungicides captan, benomyl and tolylfluanid, it showed reduction in the incidence of Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. in the Precoce 2 variety cultivated. There was a reduction in germination and vigour of seeds without lint which were treated with the pure plant extract pure or with combined products. The mycoflora consisted basically of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp. and Rhizopus sp.
Gossypium hirsutum L.; physiological and healthness quality
