Physiological quality of tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa Brot. ex Horm.) seed under two storage conditions

Abstract

In order to evaluate the physiological quality of tomatillo seeds over time and the effect of two environments, seeds of four varieties produced in 2013 were stored for three years under ambient conditions (23.43 ± 0.64 °C and 23 % RH) and at the Germplasm Bank (-20 °C and 13 % RH) of the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Mexico. They were sampled every year from October 2013 to November 2016. Germination and vigor tests were performed in each sampling under a completely randomized experimental design with six replications. Germination percentage was determined at 30 °C for 21 days in a germination chamber. Vigor was evaluated by means of the germination speed index (GSI), seedling length (SL), seedling dry weight (SDW) and percentage of normal seedlings (NS). After three years of storage, germination decreased 4.3 %, where the highest percentages were obtained with the Diamante and Tecozautla 04 varieties. However, the four varieties evaluated showed more than 90 % germination. No significant effect of storage environments on germination was observed, although the highest GSI and NS values were obtained under the storage conditions of the Germplasm Bank. The Diamante variety showed the highest germination percentage and GSI values. In the vigor variables (GSI, SL and SDW) a negative influence was observed due to the effect of storage time. germination, vigor, seed quality, deterioration, conservation