ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to evaluate the biochemical and physiological quality of peanut cultivar seeds under periods of imbibition and drying. A completely randomized statistical design was adopted, in factorial scheme, with four replications. The three peanut cultivars were: BR1, BRS 151-L7, and IAC 505. The imbibition and drying periods were: 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours. The seeds were imbibition with the aid of germitest paper and distilled water, then dried on a metal screen in a plastic box with silica, according to the periods studied. Physiological variables were evaluated (percentage of germination, normal seedlings, abnormal seedlings in the first count and abnormal seedlings in the final count, accelerated aging, seedling length, electrical conductivity, speed index, and average germination time) and biochemical variables (sugar concentration total, reducing sugars, hydrogen peroxide, total superoxide dismutase proteins, and total proteins). The desiccation tolerance of peanut seeds is reduced as the period of water absorption followed by drying increases. Seeds of cultivar IAC 505 have greater tolerance to imbibition and subsequent desiccation compared to seeds of BR1 and BRS 151-L7.

Key words
Arachis hypogaea L.; germination; water content; biochemical and physiological quality