The use of seeds with a high physiological potential is essential to guarantee proper field establishment and seedling development. Several techniques have been used to evaluate seed quality including the X-ray test. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological potential of Tabebuia heptaphylla seeds with X-ray and germination tests after grading by color and size. Seeds were classified using the Munsell color chart and screens, in light-yellow larger, light-yellow smaller, dark-yellow larger, dark-yellow smaller, mixture of light-yellow larger, light-yellow smaller and dark-yellow larger and control. Seeds from different fractions were then submitted to X-ray and germination tests. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and five replicationsand mean values were compared by the Scott-Knott test (< 5%). Results showed that the X - ray test effectively evaluates the internal morphology of Tabebuia heptaphylla seeds and its relationship with physiological potential. Seed color and size affect the physiological potential of Tabebuia heptaphyla seeds.
Tabebuia heptaphylla; image analysis; forest seeds; seedling production
