Methodology of the tetrazolium test for identifying viable seeds of orchids of the genus Cattleya native to the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

Orchids need measures for conservation of their species, among them the creation of seed banks. This study analyzes suitable methodologies to identify the viability of Cattleya seeds through the tetrazolium test. Seeds of Cattleya nobilior Rchb. and Cattleya walkeriana Gardn. were submitted to three preconditioning: no soaking (control); sucrose (10%); or distilled water. After 24 hours, they were submitted to tetrazolium solution with three types of conditioning: oven (40 °C); water bath (40 °C); or room temperature. Subsequently, the percentage of viable seeds (VS) was calculated and in vitro sowing was carried out. Germination percentage (G) was determined after 45 days. A completely randomized design was used for each species studied, with treatments arranged in a 3x3 factorial scheme (three preconditioning and three conditioning), with eight replicates of one tube each. The experiment was performed in duplicate. The highest viability values found in the tetrazolium test were close to those of germination (C. nobilior: VS = 88% e G = 97%; C. walkeriana: VS = 88% e G = 95%) for Cattleya species native to the Cerrado. The conditioning at ambient temperature had a greater effect on seed visualization for both species studied, suggesting that the tetrazolium test should be performed at this conditioning temperature.