The efficiency of vigor tests depends on their standardization for different species. The objectives of this research were to elaborate a water imbibition curve to determine the best period to regulate broccoli seed water content and to improve the controlled deterioration test for this species. Three commercial inbreed seeds were used, two seed lots of Piracicaba precoce, two seed lots of Florida and four seed lots of Ramoso. These seeds were submitted to water content determination, germination test, first count germination, seedling length, seedling emergence test, seed index emergence and controlled deterioration (18, 20, 21, 23 e 24% water content, at 45ºC and 24h period). The water imbibition curve was determined at about 84 hours. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design and the means were compared by the Tukey test (5% probability). The water imbibition curves permitted estimation of 15, 20, 22, 32 and 48 hour periods needed to increase the water content to values 18, 20, 21, 23 and 24%, respectively. The controlled deterioration test gave good results and in all water contents evaluated it was efficient in detecting vigor differences among broccoli seed lots as well as the emergence speed index and seedling emergence.
absorption curve; controlled deterioration; vigor tests; broccoli; seeds
