The vigor and germination tests are essential components of seed quality control for the seed industry. In this research an adequate method to estimate vigor of different tomato seed lots was studied. Five lots of tomato seeds of 'Saladinha´ hybrid were submitted to the following tests: germination; first counting of germination; root emission (56, 72, 80, and 96 hours after sowing); seedling emergence on spedling trays; accelerated aging with water (1g of seeds maintained at 41°C during 48 and 72 hours); accelerated aging with salt (the same procedure of last item, but using 40% NaCl solution); electrical conductivity (50 seeds in 25 mL of distillated water at 25 °C and evaluations after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours of imbibition). The germination percentage and vigor tests of primary root emission (after 56 and 72 hours) and electrical conductivity were correlated with seedling emergence. However, only the electrical conductivity test after 24 hours of imbibition showed efficiency to evaluate vigor of tomato seeds taking similar information to seedling emergence.
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill; quality control; electrical conductivity; accelerated aging; vegetables
