Physiological quality of cowpea seeds after application of chitosan-based bioproduct

The use of biological methods in the agricultural field has instigated studies in the development of products based on biopolymers. Chitosan is a biopolymer and important alternative to the agrochemicals used in large cultures, presenting favorable characteristics to the development of the plants, to the environmental issues, and to the agricultural sector economy. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the application of a chitosan-based bioproduct in the germination and vigor of cowpea seeds. A completely randomized design was adopted with four replications of 50 seeds, with the exception of the mass and length tests, carried out in five replications of 20 seeds. The chitosan-based product was tested in the concentrations of 0.0 (witness); 0.5; 1; 2.5; 5; and 10% and physiological quality parameters, emergency, vigor, leaf pigments contents and electrolyte extravasation were evaluated. The results indicated that the treatments coated with the bioproduct significantly increased the length of the seedling, shoots and radicle, shoot and seedling fresh masses, and seedlings dry mass emerged in a bed. We concluded that the application of the bioproduct, at FTSeed concentrations at 3 and 3.25%, as a coating in cowpea seeds induced the seedlings growth, acting as a biostimulant. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed a correlation between biochemical tests and germination potential in the field, with emphasis on the 5% treatment.