Abstract

The variations in seed quality and scarcity vigor studies have been limiting factors in crop establishment at different regions of its Andes origin. The present study aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of quinoa seeds, from cultivars of Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. The research was conducted in the Seeds Technology Laboratory of the University of Brasília, Brazil, through the tests of germination, hypocotyl and radicle length and accelerated aging test. Eighteen genotypes selected from different cultivars were evaluated using the F Test and Scott-Knotts. In addition, hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using the Ward method and Cluster analysis by k-means. The germination average was 80.81%; the hypocotyl and radicle length characteristics showed an average of 9.11 and 11.27 mm, respectively. The average germination after the accelerated aging test was 75.52%, with better results for the genotypes Piartal and Aurora. Quinoa genotypes showed variability in seed vigor, allowing determining differences in germination potential at high stress conditions. The application of methods developed for the analysis of quinoa seeds at 25°C and 4 days has been effective in screening for quality. Seed quality assessments in quinoa allow defining limits of tolerance to adverse conditions, facilitating selection in breeding programs.

Key words: Accelerated aging test, Chenopodium quinoa, germination, selection, vigor.