QUALITY TESTS ON PEAS SEEDS (Pisum sativum L.) AND THEIR USEFULNESS AS INDICATORS OF EMERGENCY POTENTIAL 1

Abstract

The standard germination test by itself is not enough to predict seedling emergence under adverse field conditions, so additional seed quality tests are required to measure seedling emergence potential. Nine seed lots of pea (Pisum sativum L.) without seed treatment, were evaluated under 12 seed quality tests. Tests were compared according to its reproductibility, its ability to detect differences among lots, and its usefulness as criteria for screening for  seedling emergence potential under field conditions. Data related with biochemical, physiological, analytical, and seed sanity characteristics, as well as physiological responses under stress conditions, was collected and evaluated. Some tests allowed greater differentiation among lots than others, particularly those performed under stress conditions. Results indicated that no single lab test was able to include all the factors affecting seedling emergence under field conditions; thus, two or more tests are necessary to performe a complete seed quality evaluation.