The quality of the seeds is of great importance for the cultivation of plants, however, the quality can be altered by the abiotic effects, amongst such, saline stress. Salinity is one of the great obstacles faced by modern agriculture, however, alternatives have been researched to mitigate its effects, where it is possible to mention the use of salicylic acid. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds cultivated using applications of salicylic acid to attenuate the irrigation water salinity. The experimental design was a completely randomized complete block design in incomplete factor scheme, with five conductivities for irrigation water (0.5, 1.3, 3.25, 5.2, 6.0 dS m -1 ) and five salicylic acid doses (0.0, 0.29, 1.0, 1.71 and 2.0 mM), with five and four replicates, respectively. The electrical conductivity presented an effect on germination, while the salicylic acid presented an effect on the germination speed index, emergence speed index, shoot length, root and seedling length, and seedlings dry mass. The highest correlations were obtained amongst the germination variables. Therefore, it is possible to affirm that salicylic acid can be used up to the dose of 1.0 mM with no further damage to basil seeds' quality.

Sesame is considered an alternative crop for small and medium farmers in the Brazilian Northeast region. However, under the conditions of the northeastern semi-arid region, the scarcity of good quality water for irrigation may lead to a reduction in the quality of the final product. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of sesame seeds produced under levels of soil salinity. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, in a 5 × 5 factorial scheme, with three replicates, corresponding to sesame cultivars (BRS Seda, BRS G2, BRS G3, BRS G4 and BRS Anahi) and soil salinity levels with the following values for electrical conductivity: 0.6 dS m-1, 1.2 dS m-1, 1.8 dS m-1, 2.4 dS m-1 and 3.0 dS m-1. The physiological quality was characterized based on tests of germination, first germination count, germination speed index, radicle length, seed electrical conductivity, emergence, emergence speed index and seedling dry matter. BRS Seda, BRS G2 and BRS G3, cultivated under salinity levels, present seeds with a better physiological quality, demonstrating a higher tolerance to salt stress conditions. The BRS Seda and BRS G2 cultivars tolerate salinity levels of up to 2.4 dS m-1, while BRS G3 tolerates levels of up to 1.8 dS m-1. BRS G4 and BRS Anahi have the physiological quality of their seeds compromised by the increase in the soil salinity, during their production.

RESUMOaddition, it stands out for its economic, nutritional and medicinal potential, since all its parts are sources of proteins, vitamins and carotenoids (Olayemiv et al. 2016).It is a species with a good adaptability to the conditions of the Brazilian Northeast region, presenting a diversity of uses as in folk medicine; food source for humans, helping in the fight against malnutrition; fodder feed; and in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry (Andrade et al. 2016).One of the ways to maximize its agricultural production is by applying organic matter sources to

Salinity is one of the modern agriculture major obstacles, causing several physiological disturbances in plants, adversely affecting its growth and development. Therefore, some techniques are required in order to alleviate the negative effects of salinity stress on plants, as for example an adequate nitrogen fertilization. The aim of this study was to assess the ecophysiological responses of sugar apple plants (Annona squamosa L.) submitted to different salinity levels and nitrogen fertilization doses. The experimental design was a randomized block in an incomplete factorial scheme, with five electrical conductivities of the irrigation water (ECw: 0.5, 1.01, 2.25, 3.49 and 4.0 dS m-1) and five nitrogen doses (0, 101, 350, 598.2 and 700 mg dm-3), with four replicates, generated from the Box Central Composite experimental design matrix. Through a daily course, it was observed variations in gas exchange, chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters. The gas exchange, chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters were measured on photosynthetically active leaves. There was significant interaction between the salinity levels (ECw) and nitrogen doses for the chlorophyll indexes. The electrical conductivity of the irrigation water caused significant negative effects on chlorophyll fluorescence. Therefore, it can be stated that the sugar apple plants ecophysiology varies through the day and that salinity affects its chlorophyll content and fluorescence.

Salicylic acid attenuates salinity effects on the initial growth of M. suaveolens. Seed quality improves with SA priming. Salicylic acid priming is a promising technique to reduce salinity effects.

Erythroxylum pauferrense is an endemic understory plant species of the Northeast Region of Brazil. The species is of great importance to the region and so ecophysiological studies are needed for its preservation. The objective of the present study was to determine the best substrates and temperatures for testing germination and seed vigor of E. pauferrense. An experiment was performed comprising a completely randomized design in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, with five temperature regimes (20, 25, 30, 35°C constant and 20-30°C alternating) and four types of substrates (paper, vermiculite, sand and commercial substrate). The following characteristics were evaluated: germination percentage, first germination count, germination speed index, mean germination time, seedling length and dry mass (root and shoot). Paper and vermiculite substrates combined with constant temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and alternated between 20-30°C, provide greater seed germination and vigor while 35°C reduces seed physiological quality.

A melancia é uma olerícola relevante para o Brasil, inclusive para a região Nordeste. No entanto, a sua produção é afetada pelo excesso de sais na água de irrigação dessa região. O ácido salicílico é uma substância que vem sendo utilizada como mitigadora dos efeitos desses estresses sobre as plantas. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar o tratamento de sementes com ácido salicílico como atenuante da salinidade sob o crescimento inicial de melancia. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com esquema fatorial incompleto 5 x 5, sendo cinco concentrações de ácido salicílico (AS - 0,00; 0,15; 0,50; 0,85 e 1,00 mM) e cinco condutividades elétricas da água de irrigação (CEa - 0,50; 1,01; 2,25; 3,49 e 4,00 dS m-1), totalizando 9 combinações geradas através da matriz Composto Central de Box. Foram avaliados a porcentagem e índice de velocidade de emergência, comprimento de raiz, parte aérea e de plântulas e massa seca de plântulas. Não houve efeito significativo para a interação entres os fatores avaliados. O aumento da CEa afetou negativamente a velocidade de emergência, o comprimento e a massa seca de plântulas. A dose de 1,0 mM de ácido salicílico estimulou o crescimento da parte aérea e de plântulas.

<p>A Caatinga apresenta uma grande diversidade de espécies vegetais<strong>, </strong>dentre elas <em>Luetzelburgia auriculata</em> é uma das espécies predominantes no bioma, desempenhando papel fundamental para o ecossistema local. Este trabalho objetivou descrever as características biométricas de frutos e sementes de <em>Luetzelburgia</em><strong><em> auriculata. </em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong>Para a descrição das características da semente foram coletados 200 frutos e 200 sementes de plantas nativas do município de Santa Helena, Paraíba. As amostras foram encaminhadas ao Laboratório de Nutrição Mineral de Plantas do Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural de Universidade Federal de Campina Grande para a realização das devidas aferições biométricas. Os frutos foram analisado pelo comprimento, espessura superior, mediana e inferior; largura superior, mediana e inferior. Para as sementes, foram analisados comprimento, espessura e a largura. Verificou-se que o comprimento dos frutos variou de 50,7 a 98,2 cm, a espessura de 6,00 a 17 mm e largura variando de 12,4 a 21,8 mm. Em relação às sementes, 46% se enquadraram na classe de comprimento com intervalo de 19,9 a 20,8 mm. A espécie <em>Luetzelburgia auriculata</em> apresentam variabilidade nas características biométricas de frutos e sementes</p><p align="center"><strong><em>Biometrics of fruit and seeds of </em></strong><em>Luetzelburgia auriculata (Allemão) Ducke</em></p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>The Caatinga presents a great diversity of plant species, among them the woodpecker (<em>Luetzelburgia auriculata</em> (Allemao) Ducke.) is one of the predominant species in the biome, playing a fundament al role for the local ecosystem. This work aimed to describe the biometric characteristics of fruits and seeds of Pau de Pedra. For the description of the characteristics of the <em>Luetzelburgia auriculata</em> (Allemão) Ducke seed, 200 fruits and 200 seeds of native plants of the municipality of Santa Helena, Paraíba state were collected for biometry and seed mass. Afterwards they were packed in plastic bags and properly identified and taken to Laboratório de Nutrição Mineral de Plantas do Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, where the biometric measurements were continued. The fruit was analyzed for its length, the upper, median and inferior thickness; Upper, median and lower width. The seed was analyzed for length, thickness and width. It was verified that the length of the fruits varied from 50.7 to 98.2 cm, the thickness with 6.00 to 17 mm and width ranging from 12.4 to 21.8 mm. Regarding the seeds, 46% were in the length class with a range of 19.9 to 20.8 mm. From the evaluations we conclude that the species <em>Luetzelburgia auriculata</em> present variability in the biometric characteristics of fruits and seeds, and the morphological description of the fruit and the seed constitutes the importance of the species recognition.</p><p> </p>