Classification of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench Seed Vigor by Respiratory Activity

Seeds are one of the main inputs used in agriculture, and their quality is directly related to the success of the field crop. Thus, seed companies increasingly need to obtain fast and reliable seed quality results, making it easier to make decisions regarding the use of seed batches. In this sense, the objective was to evaluate the CO2 measurement efficiency in the classification of S. bicolor seed vigor. For this, six batches of cv. Ponta Negra seeds were used, from different national producers. The physiological quality of the seeds was evaluated by means of the following tests: germination, first germination count, germination speed index, accelerated aging, total dry matter of seedlings, electrical conductivity and respiratory activity. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the respiratory activity and the germination and vigor tests was determined. The respiratory activity test on S. bicolor seeds was shown to be promising for the identification of differences in vigor between seed batches.