Seed viability and effect of temperature on germination of Agave angustifolia subsp. tequilana and A. mapisaga; two useful Agave species

The aim of this study was to evaluate seed viability and germination in Agave angustifolia subsp. tequilana and A. mapisaga; two cultivated species. We hypothesized that seed viability may have been altered differentially due to different patterns of human impact and seed germination at a wide range of temperatures is related to their respective natural distribution. The biochemical tetrazolium test and germination assays in petri dishes at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C were carried out. Species and temperature factors were tested using a fixed-effects ANOVA and mean germination time (G 50 ) and the time between 10 and 90 % (G 10−90 ) of germination potential after 30 d were analyzed by applying a Tukey test. Based on the results from tests showing seed viability, seeds were classified as viable, unviable or lacking embryo seeds, and seed viability was considered a random effect. Agave angustifolia subsp. tequilana had a higher ( p