Physiological potential of wheat seeds produced under light restriction

Abstract

The low radiation intensity can negatively affect the production of photoassimilates in plants for allocation and synthesis of reserves into seeds. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of wheat seeds produced by plants imposed on conditions of light reduction in different phenological stages, remaining until the end of the cycle. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in 2018, with a completely randomized design, with 11 treatments and 20 repetitions. The treatments consisted of 11 seed lots: 10 of plants grown in artificial shade (70%) started in the Zadoks code’s phenological stages: 23; 30; 35; 45; 55; 60; 65; 70; 75; 80 and control lot (without shading). The seeds were analyzed for germination and vigor. Seed germination was not affected. There was a reduction in vigor through the tests of accelerated and cold aging when the shading started between stages 55 and 65, but with a minimum vigor of 93 and 94%, respectively. It is concluded that the restriction of light during the development of wheat plants does not affect the germination of the seeds produced but impairs the vigor mainly when imposed in the reproductive phases.