Germination and vigor of clove basil seeds (Ocimum gratissimum L.) submitted to accelerated aging

Abstract

The present work had as objective to verify the effect of treatment with fungicide on the germination and vigor of four lots of clove basil seeds, submitted to the traditional aging and with saturated salt solution, for periods of 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours, at 42ºC. After these periods, the seeds were evaluated by the germination test, using the first count of the number of normal seedlings as vigor indicative. The vigor and the germination of the seeds decreased as increased the time of aging. In the use of saturated salt solution, the seeds water content was lower and more uniform. The fungicide treatment increased the percentage average of germination, without provoking significant modifications in the contrasts among the lots. The periods of 36 and 48 hours were efficient in evaluating of the physiologic quality of the clove basil seeds.