Abstract

HERNANDEZ-ANGUIANO, Leticia A.; LOPEZ-UPTON, Javier; RAMIREZ-HERRERA, Carlos  and  ROMERO-MANZANARES, Angélica. Variation in germination and vigor of Pinus cembroides and Pinus orizabensis seeds. Agrociencia [online]. 2018, vol.52, n.8, pp.1161-1178. ISSN 2521-9766.

Pinus cembroides and P. orizabensis produce edible seeds, which are sold at different prices depending on the color of their seed coat or testa. Germinative quality of the seeds was evaluated considering their color and three provenances per species: Colón and Cadereyta, Querétaro, and Santiago de Anaya, Hidalgo, for P. cembroides; Tepeyahualco, Puebla, and El Carmen and Altzayanca, Tlaxcala, for P. orizabensis. The combination of the factors color, provenance and species allowed us to form 18 lots. Testa thickness and germination were determined with four replications of 25 seeds and 15 replications for the imbibition test per lot. Analyses of variance were performed to test differences between species and among provenances and seed coat colors. Testa thickness, germinative capacity, peak value, and rates of imbibition and germination were different between species. The P. cembroides testa was 0.1 mm thicker and germination capacity was 4% higher than P. orizabensis. The peak value was higher and germination faster in P. cembroides (12.7 vs. 13.4 d to reach 50 % germination). Provenance was significant for germinative capacity, days to 50 % germination, peak value, and days to reach peak value. P. cembroides from Cadereyta had the highest germination (95 %); seed from Colón germinated faster. Lower vigor and germination (4.4 and 87.5 %) were found in seeds from Santiago de Anaya. The P. orizabensis seeds from El Carmen had higher germination (87.1 %) and those from Tepeyahualco and Altzayanca higher germination rate. Brown seeds of both species had thicker testa and higher germination capacity. Black P. cembroides seeds have thinner testa and germinated at a faster rate than those with brown seed coat. Brown P. orizabensis seeds were more vigorous.

Keywords : germination; seed testa color; Pinus cembroides; Pinus orizabensis; peak value.

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