Topographic tetrazolium test in seeds of Tillandsia ionantha Planch

Objective: Generate a protocol proposal for the application of the tetrazolium test on Tillandsia ionantha Planch seeds. Design/methodology/approach: A factorial design was used whose first factor corresponds to the concentrations of tetrazolium (0.1, 0.5 and 1%), application or omission of preconditioning by soaking for 12 hours, as well as whether or not to perform physical scarification, thus generating twelve treatments with three repetitions with ten seeds as experimental unit. The commas were removed from each seed and according to each treatment, the seeds were soaked with sterile distilled water for 12 hours, as well as physical scarification with a water sandpaper. The seeds were placed in plastic containers with lids at room temperature. (23°C) for 48 hours to obtain the percentage and topography of seed staining Results: After performing the ANOVA (α=0.05) it showed that the only main factor capable of exerting a statistically significant difference (p≤ 0.05) in the staining of the seeds and therefore in the detection related to viability was the preconditioning of the seeds. based on soaking for 12 h, on the other hand, scarification and the doses of tetrazolium tested had no effect on the staining result (p>0.05). Limitations on study/implications: The seeds of this species are very small, which makes them difficult to handle, and the seed coat sometimes does not allow the staining to be adequately observed. Findings/conclusions: To carry out the test, it will begin by removing the coma and soaking the seeds for 12 hours.