SEED SIZE, IMBIBITION AND VIABILITY IN SEEDS OF TWO SPECIES OF CREOLE MELON FROM THE STATE OF GUERRERO

Abstract

Objetive: Determine the physical and physiological characteristics of creole melon seeds from the Costa Chica of Guerrero.

Design/methodology/approach: It was established under a completely randomized design and Student's t-tests (?=0.05) and correlation with the Pearson's test were performed. Viability and imbibition were carried out using the methodologies described by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).

Results: The native seeds of the two varieties presented significant statistical difference (95% confidence level) in the physical quality variables. The imbibition ended at 18 and 32 h in V₂ and V₁, respectively, after being submerged in water. The humidity percentage was higher in V₁ (7.19); while, V₂ presented a higher percentage of germination and viability (96 and 90%, respectively). There is a positive association between the humidity and the physical dimensions of the seed and the highly significant (P=0.003) germination and viability (r²=0.954).

Limitations on study/implications Morphological and taxonomic classification studies of the creole genotypes of the Costa Chica region of Guerrero are required.

Findings/conclusions: There was a positive correlation between the physical and physiological quality in the native melon seeds.