Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Appropriate procedures for analyze the quality of seed is of fundamental importance, but are still incomplete in the quality control programs. The work was aims to standardize the methodology of the electrical conductivity mass and individual test and potassium leachate test to evaluate the vigor of rice seeds. It was used ten lots of rice seeds produced in the 2008/2009 crop, five the IRGA 424 variety and five Puita Inta CL variety.The lots were initially characterized the following determinations and tests: water content, germination test, first count, cold germination, length and biomass dry of seedlings and field emergence. For the electrical conductivity mass test variations were studied: number of seeds (25 and 50), water volume (50 and 75 ml), presence or absence of bark and immersion periods (1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours), temperature of 25 ºC. In the conductivity test individually survey the same periods of seeds immersion with and without bark, at a temperature of 25ºC and Seed Automatic Analyzer SAD 9000-S. It was also determined the amount of potassium leachate in the immersion solution, through flame photometer in different periods of immersion (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes). It was concluded that the electrical conductivity mass test and individual is promising for the separation of lots of rice depending on the vigour of the seeds, but in the two ways of applying has influence the genotype used. For variety IRGA 424, the best conditions for the realization of the electrical conductivity mass test is the use of 25 seeds with bark, immersed in 50 or 75 mL of distilled and deionised water for 2 to 8 hours at 25ºC. For the evaluation of individual electrical conductivity the use of seeds with bark immersed for a period of 24 hours is appropriate. To the potassium leakage test the correct procedure to classify lots of rice seeds at function their physiological quality, is the combination 50 pure seeds submerged in 50 mL of distilled and deionized water at 25ºC for 60 minutes. / Procedimentos adequados para avaliar a qualidade de sementes embora de fundamental importância ainda são incompletos nos programas de controle de qualidade. O trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecer a metodologia do teste de condutividade elétrica massal e individual e do teste de lixiviação de potássio para a avaliação do vigor de sementes de arroz. Utilizaram-se dez lotes de sementes de arroz produzidos na safra 2008/2009, sendo cinco da cultivar IRGA 424 e cinco da cultivar Puitá Inta CL. Os lotes foram caracterizados inicialmente através das seguintes determinações e testes: teor de água, germinação, primeira contagem, frio sem solo, comprimento e massa seca de plântulas e emergência em campo. Para o teste de condutividade elétrica massal foram estudadas as variações: número de sementes (25 e 50), volume de água (50 e 75 mL), presença ou não de casca e períodos de imersão (1, 2, 4, 8, e 24 horas), na temperatura de 25 ºC. No teste de condutividade elétrica individual avaliaram-se os mesmos períodos de imersão em sementes com e sem casca, na temperatura de 25ºC, no Analisador Automático de Sementes. Determinou-se também, a quantidade de potássio lixiviado na solução de imersão, através de fotometria de chama em diferentes períodos de imersão (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 e 180 minutos). Concluiu-se que o teste de condutividade elétrica massal e individual é promissor para a separação de lotes de arroz em função do vigor das sementes, porém há influência do genótipo utilizado. Para a cultivar IRGA 424, a condição mais adequada para a realização do teste de condutividade elétrica massal é a utilização de 25 sementes com casca, imersos em 50 ou 75 mL de água destilada e deionizada, por 2 a 8 horas, à 25ºC. Para a condutividade elétrica individual o uso de sementes com casca imersas pelo período de 24 horas é o mais adequado. Para o teste de lixiviação de potássio a combinação de 50 sementes puras imersas em 50 mL de água destilada e deionizada, à 25ºC, durante 60 minutos representa o mais correto procedimento para classificar lotes de sementes de arroz, em função de sua qualidade fisiológica.

The cold test is one of the oldest and most acceptable vigour tests as it is used to simulate stress conditions commonly occurring in the field. In recent years, some of South Africa’s top maize hybrids, with high cold test scores, have shown emergence problems under cold, wet planting conditions. It resulted in major complaints from commercial maize producers with sizable claims involved. Therefore, the need arose to find a more sensitive vigour test that takes into account cold, wet conditions. In practice, South African maize producers would not plant if it is too cold and wet. However, cold, wet conditions are commonly experienced during planting time in the main maize production regions of South Africa, especially during October and even November. Furthermore, in most of the commercial maize production areas, such as the western Free State, chances of thunder and hailstorms are high during the planting period. These weather conditions are major causes for sudden drops in temperature and flooding which can expose maize seed and emerging maize seedlings to stress conditions The effects of cold, wet conditions on germination and emergence of nine maize hybrids were investigated in laboratory, glasshouse and field experiments. Growth chamber and glasshouse experiments were conducted under 10°C, 20°C and 30°C and 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours flooding. Field experiments were conducted under different climatic conditions, resulting in cool and wet, cold and wet and favourable conditions during planting. The objectives were to investigate the correlations between different laboratory vigour tests and field emergence of maize hybrids under cold, wet conditions in order to identify the most suitable laboratory vigour test for predicting field emergence under cold, wet conditions. Eight different vigour tests were conducted and each was compared with field emergence under cold, wet conditions. The eight tests conducted, were the cold test, soak test, complex stressing vigour test, electrical conductivity test, accelerated ageing test, tetrazolium test, fast green test and emergence rate test. The soak test was the most sensitive vigour test when considering cold, wet conditions, as it measures seed germination, based on the warm test, after a 48 hour soak in water at 27°C. Correlations found between the soak test and field emergence (53%) under cold, wet conditions was unexpected, since the soak test does not account for low temperatures. The complex stressing vigour test was conducted to study the effect of fluctuating soaking temperatures on germination of maize seed. Seeds of nine maize hybrids were soaked for 48 hours at a moderate temperature (25°C), followed by another 48 hours soak at a low temperature (5°C), and then planted in sand and grown for 4 days at 25°C, before evaluation. Highly significant correlations were found between the complex stressing vigour test and simulated field emergence under both controlled conditions in a glasshouse (89.9%) and cold, wet conditions in the field (90.0%). The complex stressing vigour test was the best test to predict field performance under a wide range of climatic conditions, especially cold, wet conditions. Implementation of the complex stressing test as a routine vigour test, will be to the advantage of maize seed companies, especially in being proactive in predicting emergence of maize hybrids under cold, wet conditions. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc(Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted