VOLUME OF LIQUID IN COATING AND ENCRUSTING TALL FESCUE SEEDS (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.).

The first step in seed treatment is to determine the volumes of liquid to be used. These should not have a negative impact on the physical and physiological quality of the seeds and allow a good performance in the field and successful seed storage behavior. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of (i) the volume of water used in coating on the physiological quality, and (ii) the volume of adhesive polymer used in encrusting on the physical and physiological quality of seeds of Festuca arundinacea Schreb. The treatments applied were: untreated control (T0), coating with 10 (T1), 20 (T2) and 30 (T3) mL of water kg-1 seeds and encrusting with 225 (T4), 450 (T5) and 675 (T6) mL of adherent polymer kg(-1) seeds plus insecticide-fungicide- micronutrients-talc-colorant. The variables evaluated were: normal seedlings (PN), abnormal seedlings (PA), dead seeds (SM), mean daily germination (GMD), weight of 1000 seeds (p1000), coverage uniformity and mechanical effect in encrusted seeds. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and DGC test (p = 0.05). T3 showed lower PN and GMD (84 +/- 1.2% and 12.4 +/- 0.51 seedlings day(-1)). T5 did not differ from the control treatment in germination response (PN: GMD 97 +/- 2.1 and 14.4 +/- 6.31), and resulted in greater p1000 (4.805 g vs. 2.096 g control), even coverage and no negative mechanical effects. It was concluded that coating with 30 mL of water has detectable effects on degradation during seed germination of Festuca arundinacea Schreb. Incrusting with 450 mL of adhesive polymer does not affect the initial physiological quality of the seed lot, also reaching an optimal physical quality.