One experiment was carried out in order to study the relationship between water absorption levels, eletric conductivity and seed germination of Commelina benghalensis L. Seeds of the canopy and root parts of plants were harvested. They were placed in water to imbibe during periods of six, 24 and 48 hours, at 20ºC, to determine electric seed conductivity. The treatments were conducted in a seed germinator, cycling at 14/10 hours of light/dark, 30-20ºC and 95% of relative humidity. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with four replications of 100 seeds/plastic box. Germination of canopy seeds is lower than for root seeds. Water absorption rates of both seed types were alike. Electrical conductivity levels are highly associated to water imbibition periods in canopy and root seeds, also to germination in canopy seeds and to water absorption in subterraneum seeds.
dormancy; weed; water absorption; electric conductivity
