Accelerated aging of ryegrass seeds submitted to saturated salt solution/ Envelhecimento acelerado em sementes de azevem com e sem solucao salina e saturada

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the methodology of the accelerated aging test to evaluate the physiological potential of s ryegrass seeds, as well as verify the possibility of the use of unsaturated and saturated solution of NaCl as an option for control of water uptake by seeds during the test without reducing its sensitivity. Four lots of ryegrass seeds were tested for germination, seedling emergence, speed emergence and accelerated aging (periods of 24, 48, 72 and 96h, with or without the use of saturated and saline solution of NaCl). The use of unsaturated and saturated solution of NaCl reduces water absorption by ryegrass seeds during the accelerated aging test, resulting in a rate of deterioration is less pronounced ,less drastic and more uniform results. Option 24h with unsaturated solution (SNS) was only able to stratify plots into two groups and should not be designated as promising. Thus, it should be used the 48h saturated NaCl solution (SSS), which stratified into three lots. Key words: Lolium multiflorum L., NaCl, germination, vigor. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo analisar a metodologia do teste de envelhecimento acelerado para avaliacao do potencial fisiologico de sementes de azevem, bem como verificar a possibilidade do uso de solucao nao saturada e saturada de NaCl como opcao para controle da absorcao de agua pelas sementes durante a realizacao do teste, sem reduzir sua sensibilidade. Foram utilizados quatro lotes de sementes, submetidos aos testes de germinacao, emergencia de plantulas, indice de velocidade de emergencia e envelhecimento acelerado, empregando-se os periodos de exposicao de 24, 48, 72 e 96h, com e sem solucao salina (NaCl). A utilizacao de solucao nao saturada e saturada de NaCl diminui a absorcao de agua pelas sementes de azevem durante o teste de envelhecimento acelerado, acarretando uma taxa de deterioracao menos acentuada e resultados menos drasticos e mais uniformes. A opcao 24h com solucao nao saturada (SNS) so conseguiu estratificar os lotes em dois grupos, nao devendo ser indicada como promissora. Assim, deve-se usar a opcao 48h com solucao saturada de NaCl (SSS), que estratificou em tres lotes. Palavras-chave: Lolium multiflorum L., NaCl, germinacao, vigor.