Methodological adjustment of the accelerated aging test to evaluate the vigor of chia seeds
Aline Klug Radke Fernanda da Motta Xavier Paulo Eduardo Rocha Eberhardt Francisco Amaral Villela Géri Eduardo Meneghello
Chia cultivation is expanding in Brazil, but there is still no standardized test to evaluate the quality of the
seeds. Therefore, vigor tests that expose seeds to stress conditions must be standardized. This study aimed to establish the
methodology for the accelerated aging test in chia seeds. Six chia seed lots with similar germination behavior were used. They
were submitted to germination, first germination count, seedling emergence, emergence speed index and accelerated aging
tests. Aging periods of 24, 48, and 72 hours were used in the conventional methodology, and also with the use of unsaturated
and saturated sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions. The results obtained from the accelerated aging tests revealed tendencies for
lot separation similar to the classification of chia seed lots in relation to the physiological potential obtained in the preliminary
quality tests. The accelerated aging test can be used to evaluate the physiological potential of chia seeds by using water or
unsaturated saline solution. In the conventional test (water), the seeds should be exposed for 24 hours. When using unsaturated
saline solution, the exposure time must be of 48 hours.
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