Hydration curve and physiological quality of maize seeds subjected to water deficit

Abstract

The hydration pattern associated with the physiological quality of seeds can be an early indicator for the evaluation of seed quality. The present study aimed to evaluate the hydration pattern of seeds subjected, or not, to water restriction, and to relate these patterns to their physiological quality. The physiological quality of seeds from five maize strains (L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5) and four hybrids (HT1, HT2, HS1, and HS2) was initially determined using seed germination and vigor tests (accelerated ageing and electric conductivity). A completely randomized experimental design was used with four repeats for the physiological analyses and a regression analysis was performed in order to assess the behavior of the seeds over time. The hydration curve was determined by imbibing the seeds in distilled water (0.0 control) and in a -0.9-MPa osmotic solution of polyethylene glycol 6000. Water uptake by the seeds was found to follow a triphasic pattern in the absence of water stress (0.0 MPa); however, when exposed to a -0.9- MPa osmotic potential, an extended phase II was observed. Diversity was observed between the strains in terms of the hydration pattern of the seeds, which can influence the physiological quality of the hybrid seeds. Regarding the hybrids, a positive relationship was observed between the shortest time to root protrusion and the quality of the seeds, both with or without water restriction, which allows us to conclude that hydration pattern can be used as a parameter for the early evaluation of physiological quality in hybrid maize seeds.