Conditioning Effects on the Physical and Physiological Quality of Buffalograss (Panicum maximum Jacq.) Seed.

Abstract – Seed conditioning is a practice necessary for the improvement of seed lots quality. The objective of this study was to verify the changes in buffalograss (P. maximum, cv Tanzania) seed performance after each of the several phases of the conditioning process. A seed lot was sampled before and after conditioning in an air and screen cleaner and at the following discharge points of the gravity table: superior (S), superior-intermediate (IS), intermediate (I), intermediate inferior (II), and inferior (I). Seeds were evaluated as to water content, purity, 1,000 seeds weight, germination, first count of germination, seedling vigor classification, primary root length, aerial part length, electric conductivity, and accelerated aging. The statistical treatments were distributed according to a completely random design with four replications and 50 seeds per replicate. The data were submitted to the analysis of variance and the means compared by the Tukey test at the 5% level of probability. The data showed that the air and screen cleaner is efficient only to increase seed lot purity. The gravity table causes favorable modifications in seed physical and physiological quality. The seed fractions from the upper and intermediate discharge points are more dense (1,000 seeds weight above 1.19 g) and exhibit maximum performance. Keywords: Panicum maximum Jacq., germination, vigor.