Germinação, vigor de sementes e crescimento de plântulas de tomateiro sob diferentes condições nutricionais

Abstract

The experiment was carried in the laboratory of seeds and the greenhouse of the Department of Botany, Universidade Federal de Pelotas. The research was done with objective to evaluate and to describe the effect of different nutritional solutions on the germination, the vigor of the seeds and growth of tomato seedlings. The experimental design was entirely randomized with three replications. The means were compared by Tukey test (P≤ 5%). The assay was conducted three times, in each one was retreated a macroelement, being constituted by three treatments: complete Hoagland’s solution ½ strength, Hoagland’s solution ½ strength minus one element, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) or potassium (K), and water. The following tests were leaded: germination (TG), first counting of germination (PCG), germination speed index (IVG), electric conductivity (CE), seedlings emergence (TE), emergence speed index (IVE), shoot (PA) and roots (SR) lengths of seedlings, fresh (MF) and dry (MS) matters of shoot and root seedlings, leaf area, leaf number, and pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) content. The physiological quality of seeds was affected by treatments, being the more sensible test the electric conductivity. The complete Hoagland solution ½ strength produced increments on the major growth characteristics of seedlings under greenhouse conditions, meanly on dry matter accumulation and leaf area. The carotenoids content was not affected by different treatments. While the chlorophyll content, in some cases, decreased in the treatment with water.