Evaluation of the quality of cotton seeds stored in different regions of Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

Seed lots from perennial cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. r. Marie galante Hutch.) and herbaceous cotton (G. hirsutum L.r. latifolium Hutch.) produced in, 1980 were stored under environmental conditions without temperature control and relative atmospheric humidity, for a period of 24 months beginning on January 1981. This study was carried out on the following locations in the State of Pernambuco: Vitória de Santo Antão belonging to the 'Mata" region, Caruaru in the "Agreste", and Serra Talhada and Belém do São Francisco in the "Sertão". The seed samples were coliected every three months and submitted to moisture level, germination and vigour evaluation tests. The results showed that the moisture level of the seeds were lower in the “Sertão” region, where relative humidity of the alt is lower than in the other locations. Seed presented also more significant losses in germination and vigour in Vitória de Santo Antão, being Serra Talhada and Belém do São Francisco considered the best locations for the storage of cotton seeds.