Physiological quality of common bean seeds under soil water availability factor

Abstract

Water availability is one of the main factors responsible for the productivity of the bean plant, as well as the quality of the common bean seeds produced. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of the common bean seeds cultivars subjected to soil water availability factor (f factor). The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, with four replications. The treatments were arranged in split plots, with the plots consisting of five water availability factors f (0.20, 0.35, 0.50, 0.65 and 0.80, being 0,8 the most stressful f factor) and the subplots consisting of two bean cultivars (BRS Pérola and BRS Estilo). At the end of the crop cycle, physiological quality of the seeds was evaluated through the following analyses: water content, germination, emergence, emergence speed index, length, fresh mass of seedlings and electrical conductivity. Water stress (after 0,45) negatively affected the physiological quality of seeds, since the maximum physiological quality was obtained with f factors closer to field capacity, being better with f factors up to 0.45. The cultivar BRS Estilo was more tolerant to water stress than BRS Pérola.