Vigor evaluation of wheat seeds using the accelerated aging test

With the objective of improving the accelerated aging test procedures for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds, four aging temperatures (35, 38, 41 and 43ºC) and three aging periods (48, 72 and 96 hours) were combined to evaluate six seed lots of the IAC-350 cultivar and six seed lots of the IAC-370 cultivar. All the lots possessed initial germination percentages over 90%. Accelerated aging tests where carried out using a complete randomized block design in a factorial scheme. The accelerated aging tests results were compared with seedling emergence tests results, obtained in the field, at the time of growing wheat in São Paulo State, Brazil, and with a germination test result, obtained after storing the seed lots for 16 months, under ambient conditions. Based on this comparison, it was concluded that the accelerated aging carried out at 43ºC for 48 hours provided better separation of wheat seed lots, with respect to their physiological potential.

Triticum aestivum; physiological potential; environment stress