Electrical conductivity test in the physiological evaluation of Vigna unguiculata seeds

Abstract

This study evaluated the physiological quality of seeds of five cultivars of cowpea using the electrical conductivity test in comparison to the classical analysis of seed vigor. The seeds were previously submitted to six different imbibition periods - 2, 5, 8, 16, 20 and 24 h and at two temperatures in BOD (25ºC and 30ºC). The traditional vigor analysis was evaluated in 200 seeds, by germination, first germination count, and emergency speed index and accelerated aging. The design was completely randomized with four replicates of 50 seeds. The results showed that the electrical conductivity was efficient in distinguishing the physiological quality of cowpea cultivars independent of the temperature used, the cultivars Setentão and Gurgueia, obtained the best responses for leachate release, this trend was also observed using the traditional vigor evaluation methodology. The cultivars BRS Paraguaçu and BRS Guariba showed higher leachate release and the latter also obtained lower result for accelerated aging and first germination count. The electrical conductivity test was efficient in determining the physiological quality of cowpea cultivars, with a low temperature effect, which could be reduced to 20 h of imbibition.