Temperature and seed color, two factors related to the germination of tropical kudzu

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of temperature on seed germination of tropical kudzu (P. phaseoloides Benth), four experiments consisting of sunlight exposure, incubation, and hot water were tested. Seed color was considered in treatments with hot water as well. All treatments stimulated seed germination. Seed exposure to sunlight for a period of six hours was the one which produced the highest germination percentage in the laboratory (89%). Brown-dark coated seeds exhibited a very low germination ability when compared to the yellow coated seeds.