Resumen

PEREZ CAMACHO, Ignacio et al. Germination, vigor and sugar content in reponse to development and desiccation of physalis ixocarapa brot seeds. INCI [online]. 2008, vol.33, n.10, pp.762-766. ISSN 0378-1844.

During seed development the humidity content decreases while germinability increases, a process known as acquisition of tolerance to desiccation. However, this process is not well known in seeds of Physalis ixocarpa. The effect of three drying methods in the physiological quality (germination and vigor) and sugar content of seeds of P. ixocarpa cv Chapingo was evaluated at different development stages. Seeds were extracted at six fruit development stages (28, 35, 42, 49, 56 and 63 days after flowering, DDF) and exposed to three types of drying: forced air at 25ºC or at room temperature, and a control consisting in planting the seeds inmediately. In all development stages, both drying treatments elevated germination up to 42% (P £ 0.05) over the control. The emergency rate (seed vigor) increased on average from 7 seedlings per day at 28 DDF to 18 seedlings per day at 42 DDF, independent of the drying method, which means that these drying methods affected germinability instead of seed vigor. In all the treatments, saccharose and rafinose contents increased during seed development, whereas monosaccharides contents (glucose, fructuose and sorbitol) were not related to the drying treatments.

Palabras clave : Desecación; Semilla; Tolerancia; Tomate de Cáscara; Tomatillo.