Morphology and physiological quality of seeds of red rice cultivars

Abstract

The objective was to characterize and morphologically describe seeds and seedlings and to evaluate the physiological quality of seeds of six red rice cultivars. The seeds of six red rice cultivars (Traditional Red, Red Khaki, MNA PB 0405, MNA PB 0728, MNA RN 0802 and MNA RN 0803) were sown in rolls of paper towels four repetitions of 25 seeds and sent to the germinator regulated at alternating temperature 20-30°C and continuous light regime. The cultivars present glumelas, glumes and straw-colored apicus, hairy glumes and red caryopsis, with the exception of the cultivar Red Khaki. The medium-elongated shape of the grain was observed more frequently in the evaluated varieties. The varieties MNA PB 0728, MNA RN 0802 and Red Khaki belong to the long grain class, MNA PB 0405 to medium grain, while the cultivars Traditional Red and MNA RN 0803 to the mixed grain class. The seeds have translucent and floury endosperm. The cultivars MNA PB 0405, MNA PB 0728, MNA RN 0802 and MNA 0803 showed higher percentages of germination, however MNA PB 0728 stood out for the greater germinative vigor. The cultivar MNA PB 0728 presented the smallest size of aerial part and primary root, but also the highest weight of dry mass of the two parts of the seedling