FERTILIZATION AND STORAGE ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCE ON ONION SEED QUALITY

Abstract

In order to study fertilization and storage conditions effects over onion (Allium cepa L.) seed quality cv. Cojumatlán and Red Burgundy, this study was done in two phases using seed obtained under 15 fertilization treatments. The first phase consisted in an accelerated aging test under 41^oC and 100% relative humidity during 0 (check), 48, 72 and 96 hours. After that the second phase started with remmant seed storaged under the following three temperature and relative humidity combinations: -2^oC and 14RH, 17-21^oC and RH, and 9-38^oC and 35% RH. Seed physiological quality was evaluated at two, three and six months storage periods. Sand bed vigor test was done in the seed from the two experimental phases. A randomized complete block design was used. The variables measured were: emergency velocity (EV) and emergency percentage (EP). The obtained results showed that mainly there was a nitrogen fertilization effect, and the best result was obtained with the 153 kg ha^-1 nitrogen treatment. The two varieties responded the same for the accelerated aging treatments, however, in the Cojumatlán cultivar, vigor increased after the six month seed storage condition. Three months storage conditions didnot affect emergency velocity and emergency percentage, but after six months storage conditions an outstanding deterioration in all the cases was observed. There was not a differential respose to accelerated aging between the two varieties, but there were differences between deterioration varieties patron, that is, in the Red Burgundy variety a higher seed deterioration was observed after the sixth months storage period.