Influence of fruit ripening on germination, vigor and content seed oil of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.)

Abstract

The physiological maturity defines the ideal time for harvesting and of maximum seed quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seeds physiological maturity of physic nut. The research was carried out at the Seed Technology Laboratory of the DEA-UFS. To achieve the physiological maturity the observations were performed after anthesis. Seeds were subjected to biometric evaluations, determination of water content, germination, speed of germination index, fresh and dry weight of seedlings, tetrazolium test and oil content. Data of germination and tetrazolium were transformed into arc sene √ (X/100). For comparison the average values obtained in the tests it were used the Tukey test at 5% level of probability. In the conditions of this work, the physiological maturation of the physic nut seeds occurs 48 days after anthesis. The maximum viability of physic nut seeds occurs in seeds harvested at maturity stage II. The physiological maturity of the seeds occurs in yellow fruits, this expression is useful to assist the farmer in defining seed harvesting, especially when considering the seed production for propagation.