Safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius L.) invigoration by pre-hydration

Abstract

For seed storage, a low moisture content index is recommended, while in sowing, a rapid and homogeneous hydrolysis is important to reactivate its metabolism during germination and seedling development. The goal of the study was to establish the effect of pre-conditioning treatments on safflower seed, through the germination and emergence of seedlings. The pre-imbibition treatments were: distilled water, gibberellic acid and a biostimulant based on humic and fulvic acids, in periods of 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours. The seed was produced in spring-summer 2019 and 2020. The results indicate that imbibition of seeds in water by a period of 4 hours was the most effective treatment, showing the highest germination percentages, in addition to presenting a faster and more uniform emergence of seedlings. The pre-conditioning with Gibberellic acid even reduced the germination values and the biostimulant generated homogeneity in the emergence of seedlings