| The physiological quality of cotton cultivar seeds (Gossypium hirsutum var. latifolium L.) was evaluated in laboratory by the simulation of water potentials with polyethyleneglycol-6000 (0.0; -0.2; -0.4; -0.6; -0.8 and -1.0 MPa), at 25ºC using germitest paper as substrate. A completely randomized design in a 4 × 6 factorial scheme with four replications of 50 seeds each was used. The studied variables were: germination percentage, first count of germination, germination velocity index, accelerated aging in water, electrical conductivity, humidity, vigor classification, radicle length and radicle/shoot length ratio. The effect of water stress on seed viability and on plantlet vigor was severe at potentials below -0.4 MPa. The 'CNPA 187 8H' cultivar was the... |
